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Posts Tagged ‘Vayetze’

Heralding the Unheralded | A Guest Post

Herald1A guest post by Rabbi Aaron Fink (my father), Dean of Ateres Bais Yaakov on Monsey NY. Part of a weekly Dvar Torah (Torah “Thought”) series.

Yetzias Tzaddik Oseh Roshum

Vayeitzei Yaakov. We are familiar with the famous Rashi, which explains that the word vayeitze teaches us a very special lesson. Really, the parsha could have started with vayeilech Charana. However, by commencing with the word vayeitzei, we learn that yetzias tzaddik oseh roshum. When a tzaddik leaves town it makes an impression – while the tzaddik is in town, he is its pride and splendor. When he leaves the city, its pride and splendor are diminished.

On a practical level it is important to remember that one can never overestimate the impact of the tzaddik on his community. (more…)

The Jewish Home – In Memory of The Holzbergs Formerly of Mumbai | Drasha Vayetze 2009

home_sweet_homeSpecial thanks to community member Elizabeth Danziger, founder of Worktalk Communications Consulting, for assisting in transforming this sermon from last year into an essay for this year.

The Jewish Home

Vayetze 5769

This week marks the first anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Chabad House in Mumbai, India. I dedicate this learning to the memory of the Holzberg, who were brutally murdered at that time.

This week’s Torah portion begins with the flight of Yaakov. He is a fugitive, having just snatched the primary blessings of Yitzchak from under his brother Eisav’s nose. Yaakov begins his exodus en route to the home of Lavan his mother’s brother to find his soul mate and marry her.

Does this storyline sound familiar? Did any other biblical characters leave their parent’s home recently? (more…)