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Shabbat Parashat Vayishlach 5773

Vayishlach | 17 Kislev 5773 | 01/12/2012

Parashat Hashavua: Presents, Prayer, and Battle – Always?

In the beginning of the parasha, we find that Yaakov employed three types of tactics in anticipation of his encounter with Eisav: presents, prayer, and preparation for battle (see Rashi, Bereishit 32:9). Rabbeinu Bachyei discusses how this three-pronged approach is to be the model throughout history, and that indeed King Chizkiyahu learned this approach from Yaakov. He adds that we (talking to the people of his time and likely beyond) should learn from our patriarch to approach those whom we fear with presents, soft words, and prayer before Hashem. He adds: “but in battle we cannot, as it says: ‘I made you swear, O daughters of Israel …’ (Shir Hashirim 2:7) – that they would not get involved in battle with the nations.”

Ask the Rabbi: Kiddush and “Hamotzi” for Those in Need of Gluten-Free Diets

Because some family members are gluten-intolerant, we started baking two kinds of cakes, etc. that look and taste almost identical. Are the “Shehakol” pastries acceptable for the “Mezonot” foods that usually follow Kiddush?

Ein Ayah: Spiritual Dangers and Saving Graces

It is better to walk after a lion than after a woman; [better] after a woman than after idol worship; [better] after idol worship than after a shul at a time people are praying. [The problem of walking outside a shul] is only when there is not another entrance, but if there is another entrance, it is not a problem. And it is only a problem when he is not riding on a donkey, or carrying a load, or wearing tefillin, for if he is doing one of these, it is not [a problem].

P'ninat Mishpat: Claims of a Lawyer’s Negligence

The plaintiffs (=pl) sold an apartment, using the defendant’s (¬=def) legal services to draw up a contract, for which pl paid def 2,900 shekels. Def sent the contract to pl shortly before the closing of the sale. Pl claim that they sent requested modifications for the contract, but the contract was not resubmitted to them and there was too much rush at the signing to study its contents. Pl claim that the fact that the contract was written in terms of dollars instead of shekels caused a loss of 11,948 shekels, which was a matter of negligence for which def is responsible. Therefore, def should return his lawyer’s fee. The shoddy quality of def’s work can be seen, among other things, in such mistakes as paragraph 31 being a repeat of paragraph 30. Def responds that it had always been agreed that the sale would be on the basis of dollars. Def counterclaims that pl bad-mouthed him, which caused significant professional losses, as prior to this altercation, def received an average of three clients a month through real estate agents, and in the two years since then he did not receive even one client in this manner.

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

Hemdat Yamim

is dedicated

in memory of

R. Yona Avraham

ben Shmuel

Storfer 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).