Vayishlach 5779

Vayishlach

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THE SAND

In this week’s Parsha, Vayishlach, our father Yaakov references HaShem’s promise that ‘his children shall be like to sand of the sea which is not counted because it is so numerous’. It is noteworthy that the promise was not that ‘they will as numerous as the sand of the sea’, but that ‘they shall be like the sand of the sea’. It would seem that the parallel to the sand is not limited to the number of grains but to the very essence of the sand. If this is correct we need to appreciate the significance of the sand of the sea.

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Zos Habracha / Succos 5779

Succos, Zos Habracha

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UNCONDITIONAL AND ABSOLUTE

Our Sages teach us that the Esrog represents the one who has both Torah study and good deeds, the Lulav represents the one who has Torah study but lacks good deeds, the Hadassim represent the one who has good deeds but lacks Torah study and finally the Arava represents the Jew lacks both Torah study and good deeds. These four types of plants are brought together and held in the hands of every Jew as he celebrates his Succos holiday. The imagery can be appreciated as we bring all types of Jews together and in unison we draw ourselves close to HaShem.

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