* PARASHA Q&A *
                 In-Depth Questions on the Parasha w/Rashi
                              * VAYISHLACH *

**************************************************************************
The following file is available by FREE subsription from

Ohr Somayach Institutions.

If you would like to receive an issue, sent each week to your 
Compuserve E-Mailbox, send a message to:

INTERNET:listserv@jerusalem1.datasrv.co.il

The message text should contain the following information:

sub parasha-qa {firstname} {lastname}

**************************************************************************

RASHI QUESTIONS
1. Which two blessings of Yitzchok did Yaakov say were unfulfilled ?

2. What determines the name of an angel ?

3. Give two interpretations of the dots in 33:4.

4. When did Eisov concede the brochos of his father to Yaakov and when did 
   his patron angel do so ?

5. Why does the Torah name the concubine of Eliphaz ?


GENERAL QUESTIONS
1. Identify the passages indicating Yaakov's diplomacy, prayer and strategy.

2. Where were the following during Yaakov's encounter with Eisov :     
   a) Dinah; b) Rachel; c) Binyomin ?
 
3. Why were Shimon and Levi so confident of conquering Shechem ?

4. How old was Yitzchok when Yosef was sold ?

5. Why was Ovadiah (this week's Haftorah) chosen to communicate the prophecy 
   regarding Eisov ?


BONUS QUESTION
There are only three mitzvahs in Sefer Bereshis.  The first mitavah, to be 
fruitful and multiply, is essential to the survival of all mankind.  The 
second mitzvah, bris milah, fixes in the flesh of the Jew a sign to remember 
that he has been separated by G-d for a special mission.  The third mitzvah, 
not to eat the gid haNashe (sinew of the thigh) on the surface seems merely 
to commemorate the results of a wrestling match.  What is the message this 
mitzvah has for us?


ANSWER RASHI QUESTIONS PARSHAS VAYEITZE
1. Rashi 28:13 - One who is blind and confined to his home
   Rashi 29:11 - A poor person
   Rashi 30:1  - One without children

2. A) Passuk 29:22, B) Rashi 29:25 - Fulfill the week of this one"
   refers to the seven days of celebration following a marriage.

3. Rashi 31:32 - Because Yaakov cursed the one who stole Laban's idols, 
   Rachel died.

4. Rashi 28:12 - Why were the angels ascending and then descending (since 
   angels live in heaven they should have to descend before ascending) ?  
   The angels going up were ones who accompanied Yaakov in Eretz Yisrael and
   the angels coming down were the angel who accompanied him in chutz la'aretz.
   Rashi 32:2 - After leaving Laban, Yaakov met angels to escort him into the 
   land.

5. Rashi 29:17 - Easau thought he would marry Leah because everyone said 
   Rifka has two sons and Laban has two daughters; the older one for the older
   one and the younger one for the younger one.

ANSWER TO BONUS QUESTION PARSHA VAYEITZE
The law of a mistaken transaction applied only when the merchandise received 
is defective in such a way that it does not fill the need for which the buyer
acquired it.  If the goods satisfy the buyer's purpose in buying them, the 
sale is still a good sale.  In Passuk 29:21 Yaakov said to Laban : Give me my 
wife for my days are fulfilled.  Rashi explains he wanted to establish the 
twelve tribes.  He wanted a wife who was fit for this goal.  
What Laban did was take Rachel, one woman who was fitting to be a mother of 
the twelve tribes, and replace her with Leah, another woman who was fit to 
be a mother of the twelve tribes.  Thus Yaakov's primary purpose in marrying 
was fulfilled and thus the marriage was a good marriage.