Parsha Q&A - Parshat Vayishlach

Parshat Vayishlach

For the week ending 18 Kislev 5760; 26 & 27 November 1999

Contents:

Parsha Questions

Kasha

I Did Not Know That!

Parsha Questions

Answers | Contents

What sort of messengers did Yaakov send to Esav?
Why was Yaakov both "afraid" and "distressed?"
In what three ways did Yaakov prepare for his encounter with Esav?
Where did Dina hide and why?
After helping his family across the river, Yaakov remained alone on the other side. Why?
What was the angel forced to do before Yaakov agreed to release him?
What was it that healed Yaakov's leg?
Why did Esav embrace Yaakov?
Why did Yosef stand between Esav and Rachel?
Give an exact translation of the word "nisa" in verse 33:12.
What happened to the 400 men who accompanied Esav?
Why does the Torah refer to Dina as the "daughter of Leah" and not the "daughter of Yaakov?"
Whom should Shimon and Levi have consulted concerning their plan to kill the people of Shechem?
Who was born along with Binyamin?
What does the name Binyamin mean? Why did Yaakov call him that?
The Torah states "The sons of Yaakov were twelve." Why?
How old was Yaakov when Yosef was sold?
Esav changed his wife's name to Yehudit. Why?
Which three categories of people have their sins pardoned?
What is the connection between the Egyptian oppression of the Jewish people and Esav's decision to leave the land of Canaan?

Kasha

(kasha means "question")

How would you answer this question on the Parsha?

NameWithheld@vjmail.com from California asked:

Why, even after the angel tells Jacob that he is to be called Israel (Genesis 32:28) does he continue to be referred to as Jacob? (Genesis 33:1)

Answer: The name Israel is an additional name, not a replacement. Furthermore, the angel wasn't sent to change Yaakov's name.

(Ibn Ezra, Ramban)

I Did Not Know That!

"Thus say to my master, to Esav..." (32:5)

Yaakov calls Esav "my master" eight times in this week's Parsha. Because of this, Esav merited to have eight kings emerge from his descendants before any king emerged from Yaakov's descendants.

(Chizkuni)

Answers to this Week's Questions

Questions | Contents

All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated

What sort of messengers did Yaakov send to Esav?
32:4 - Angels.
Why was Yaakov both "afraid" and "distressed?"
32:8 - He was afraid he would be killed. He was distressed that he would have to kill.
In what three ways did Yaakov prepare for his encounter with Esav?
32:9 - He sent gifts, he prayed, and he prepared for war.
Where did Dina hide and why?
32:23 - Yaakov hid her in a chest so that Esav wouldn't see her and want to marry her.
After helping his family across the river, Yaakov remained alone on the other side. Why?
32:25 - He went back to get some small containers he had forgotten.
What was the angel forced to do before Yaakov agreed to release him?
32:27 - Admit that the blessings given by Yitzchak rightfully belong to Yaakov.
What was it that healed Yaakov's leg?
32:32 - The shining of the sun.
Why did Esav embrace Yaakov?
33:4 - His pity was aroused when he saw Yaakov bowing to him so many times.
Why did Yosef stand between Esav and Rachel?
33:7 - To stop Esav from gazing at her.
Give an exact translation of the word "nisa" in verse 33:12.
33:12 - It means "travel." (It does not mean "we will travel." This is because the letter "nun" is part of the word and does not mean "we" as it sometimes does.)
What happened to the 400 men who accompanied Esav?
33:16 - They slipped away one by one.
Why does the Torah refer to Dina as the "daughter of Leah" and not the "daughter of Yaakov?"
34:1 - Because she was outgoing like her mother, Leah.
Whom should Shimon and Levi have consulted concerning their plan to kill the people of Shechem?
34:25 - Their father, Yaakov.
Who was born along with Binyamin?
35:17 - His two twin sisters.
What does the name Binyamin mean? Why did Yaakov call him that?
35:18 - Ben-Yemin means "Son of the South." He was the only son born in the Land of Israel, which is south of Aram Naharaim.
The Torah states "The sons of Yaakov were twelve." Why?
35:22 - To stress that all of them, including Reuven, were righteous.
How old was Yaakov when Yosef was sold?
35:29 - One hundred and eight.
Esav changed his wife's name to Yehudit. Why?
36:2 - To fool Yitzchak into thinking that she had abandoned idolatry.
Which three categories of people have their sins pardoned?
36:3 - One who converts to Judaism, one who is elevated to a position of leadership, and one who marries.
What is the connection between the Egyptian oppression of the Jewish people and Esav's decision to leave the land of Canaan?
36:6 - Esav knew that the privilege of living in the Land of Israel was accompanied by the prophecy that the Jews would be "foreigners in a land not their own." Therefore Esav said, "I'm leaving — I don't want the Land if it means I have to ‘pay the bill' of subjugation in Egypt."

Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Production Design: Eli Ballon

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Parshat Vayishlach

Parsha Questions

Kasha

(kasha means "question")

I Did Not Know That!

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Answers to this Week's Questions