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Shabbat Parashat Toldot 5773

Toldot | 3 Kislev 5773 | 17/11/2012

Parashat Hashavua: Push Away with the Left Hand

The birth and development of Yaakov and Eisav led to a historical, difficult relationship, which more often than not, had Eisav’s offspring trying to bring harm upon Yaakov’s offspring. While some enmity stemmed from the struggle over the blessings, most of the tension arose from the fact that the two were born as very different people leading to very different nations, as was prophesied from the time of pregnancy (see Bereishit 25:23). This background leads to a very difficult question. If a special miracle was needed to allow Rivka to conceive, why did the miracle have to result in the birth of twin boys, considering it was already prophesied that the chosen nation would come from only one of the sons? Let us present one of the possible approaches that stem from the words of Chazal.

Ask the Rabbi: Does One Require Intention for the Mitzva to Live in Israel?

Does one fulfill the mitzva of yishuv Eretz Yisrael (= yEY), the mitzva to inhabit the Land of Israel) if he does so without kavana (intention)?

Ein Ayah: Different Parts of Our Evil Inclinations

[The Torah writes in the context of the creation of man,] “Vayyitzer Hashem” (Hashem created) with two letters yud. We learn from there that He created man with two yetzarim (inclinations – the words for creating and inclination are very similar) – a good inclination and an evil inclination. Rav Nachman asked: But only one yud is found regarding the creation of animals, and we see that they have an evil inclination, as they damage, bite, and kick. Rather, it is as Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi said: “Woe is to me because of yotzri (my Creator); woe is to me because of yitzri (my evil inclination).”

P'ninat Mishpat: Late Return of Flawed Furniture – part II

In January ’08, a shul (=pl) received delivery of tables and corresponding benches of various sizes from a furniture company (=def). In August ’08 they received another order from def. Pl now (’10) complains that the legs of one size of table do not line up properly with the benches so that two people have to sit with one foot outside the table. Pl claim that it took some time to uncover the problem but when they did, they tried in a few ways to contact def’s sales representative, but he did not get back to them. After quite some time, a representative came to check the matter, but def is unwilling to take responsibility. Pl wants def to take back the tables and replace them at def’s expense. Def says that the tables are standard and that there have not been other complaints. In any case, def claims, since it took pl two years to complain (while payments continued), def should not have to take back unusable, used merchandise.

RCA Melaveh Malka

This edition of
Hemdat Yamim

is dedicated
to the memory of
R' Meir
ben

Yechezkel Shraga Brachfeld

o.b.m

Hemdat Yamim

is endowed by

Les & Ethel Sutker

of Chicago, Illinois
in loving memory of
Max and Mary Sutker
and

Louis and Lillian Klein, z”l

Hemdat Yamim

is dedicated

in memory of

Shirley,

Sara Rivka

bat Yaakov Tzvi

HaCohen z”l

A weekly divrei Torah leaflet: A Glimpse at the Parasha, Ask the Rabbi, From the writings of Harav Avraham Yitzchak Hakohen Kook, zt”l, Pninat Mishpat (Jewish Monetary Law).