Parshas Vayishlach - Parsha Stumpers

~ Something to Think About ~

פרשת וישלח

Parsha Stumpers

By: Daniel Listhaus

1. (32:4) Rashi explains that Yaakov sent angels to his brother Eisav. Why did he have to send angels as opposed to regular messengers?

2. (32:5) Many know the famous Rashi in our parsha which says “with Lavan I have sojourned...and yet I have kept the 613 mitzvos”. However, many do not realize that that is the second explanation Rashi gives. The first is, “I did not become a dignitary or a notable, but rather a mere sojourner. It therefore does not befit you (Eisav) to hate me over the blessings of your father who blessed me, 'Be a lord to your brothers', for it has not yet been fulfilled in me.” Aren't these two explanations contradictory to each other in the sense that one is meant to scare Eisav and the other is to calm him?

3. (32:5) How could Yaakov claim to have kept all 613 mitzvos if some were not even possible to do yet?

4. (32:5-6) Why did Yaakov focus on trying to calm Eisav down based on the little Yaakov had and that it had nothing to do with him receiving the berachos, as opposed to pointing out all the good that Eisav himself had and that therefore the berachos clearly did not matter?

5. (32:8) The passuk says, “And Yaakov became very frightened, and it distressed him....” Why was Yaakov afraid? Certainly a yarei shamayim like Yaakov avinu had complete bitachon in Hashem that his encounter with Eisav would be fine. After all, Hashem had promised to be with Yaakov. So, why was Yaakov afraid?

6. (32:8) How could Eisav have been coming to kill Yaakov if he promised that he would not hurt Yaakov while Yitzchak was still alive?

7. What is the difference between the way that Yaakov prepared to go to battle with Eisav and with the malach of Eisav? Why the differences?

8. (32:23) Rashi writes that Yaakov hid his daughter, Dinah, in a box so that Eisav would see her. Yaakov was later punished for doing this. What did he do wrong? Why should he be punished for taking extra precautions? Granted she might have been able to help Eisav, but certainly the statistics did not point in that direction? Also, why wasn’t Leah punished for crying when she thought she would have to marry Eisav? Perhaps she could have helped too?

9. (32:24) Rashi explains that from the fact that Yaakov went back to retrieve the pachim k'tanim we see that tzadikkim stay away from stealing. What does going back for pachim k'tanim have to do with stopping from stealing? And how could we understand the concept of a tzaddik loving money more than his life?

10. (32:27-28) Yaakov told the malach of Eisav to bless him, and in return the malach asked, “What is your name?” How was this a valid response to the question? And what does admitting that the berachos belong to Yaakov have anything to do with the fight that Yaakov and the malach were having?

11. (32:29) The Gemara in Berachos says that after Avraham and Sarah's names were changed, it is assur to call them by their original names. What is different about the name changing of Avraham and Sarah and the name change of Yaakov to Yisroel?

12. When exactly was Yaakov’s name changed to Yisroel?

13. (32:33) Why do we not eat gid ha’nasheh? Perhaps we should not eat any part of an animal that any of the avos ever got hurt on in their lives?

14. (34:5) The Torah tells us that Yaakov heard what had happened to Dinah, but kept quiet until his children came back from the field. Why?

15. (34:17) Where is there an example in the parsha of a “t’nai kaful” and why isn’t it among the list in the Gemara Kiddushin?

16. (35:1 versus 32:23) Rashi seems to give two different reasons why Dinah was captured by Shechem. Why?

17. (35:13) Rashi again in this week's parsha says, “I do not know what this is coming to teach us”. Why does Rashi bother telling us that he doesn't know? Just write nothing!

18. (36:3) Rashi comments that there are 3 people whose sins are forgiven: A convert, one who ascends to greatness, and when one gets married. The first is understandable but what about the latter two?

19. Despite the fact that now-a-days people name kids after deceased relatives all the time, it is pretty rare that you find names repeated in Torah. Why is that? And what are a few names in these week's parsha which are repeated elsewhere in Tanach?