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Shabbat Parashat Vayeitzei 5777

Vayeitzei | 10 Kislev 5777 | 10/12/2016

Parashat Hashavua: Learning and Dreaming

Yaakov had two preparations for his life with Lavan – 14 years of study in the yeshiva of Shem and Ever, and the dream of the ladder. These helped him survive the period successfully. Although Yaakov already obtained the berachot that ensured his ultimate success, including financially, he was not satisfied. After all, fortune can cause its owner’s downfall (Kohelet 5:12). For a meaningful life of activity, he needed to be a talmid chacham, who could study in his free time in a significant way. He entered a life of intensive study in the ancient yeshiva. The beracha Yaakov received from his father was literally, “from the dew of the heaven and the fats of the land, and a multitude of grain and wine.” However, he understood it like the midrash – referring, respectively, to Tanach, Mishna, Talmud, and aggada (Bereishit Rabba 66:3). When Yaakov put in long hours on Lavan’s flock (see Bereishit 31:40), he contemplated Torah ideas while at work.

Ask the Rabbi: Double Wrapping Food in a Treif Oven

I know that sometimes when warming something in a not kosher oven or a milchig food in a fleishig oven, he double wraps the food. When is this necessary and why?

Ein Ayah: Sharing a Big Event with a Big Group

[After all these events, Rabbi Shimon said:] since a miracle occurred, let me institute something helpful, as the pasuk says, “Yaakov came in a complete manner” (Bereishit 33:18, after being saved from Eisav - Rashi). Rav said [about this pasuk]: complete in his body; complete in his wealth; complete in his Torah.

P'ninat Mishpat: Switching Accountants Due to Slow Results

The plaintiff (=pl) provides tax refund services, and the defendant (=def) used him originally to his satisfaction. For tax year 2009, he requested a major refund, due to receiving severance pay from three sources and becoming self-employed. The tax authorities’ (=mas hach) ruling was greatly delayed. Finally, the refund was rejected, mas hach demanded payment, and they froze def’s bank accounts when he did not pay. Def turned to his new accountant for his business, and several months later received a refund of 18,000 shekels. According to pl, the new accountant complicated his ability to expedite the request because pl no longer was able to communicate with mas hach as the legal representative and receive needed materials. That, along with the request’s complexity, explained mas hach’s delay. Pl claims that based on their old signed contract, def owes him 25% of the discount (4,410 shekels) plus penalties for late payment as stipulated in the contract), even if def asked someone else to continue the work. The fee is justified because pl receives nothing if there is no refund. Def claims that he is not contractually obligated because he did not sign on a contract for 2009, and his accountant could have done it for much less money. He had asked to end pl’s work, and he agreed to continue only because of pl’s pleas and promises until he could wait no more. Def’s accountant explained that pl acted ineffectively, including that he did not physically visit mas hach.

Refuah Sheleymah to

Orit bat Miriam

Hemdat Yamim

is dedicated

to the memory of:

those who fell

in the war

for our homeland

Shirley Rothner,

Sara Rivka

bat Yaakov Tzvi HaCohen z”l

R' Eliyahu Carmel,

Rav Carmel's father,

who passed away on

8^th of Iyar 5776

Yechezkel Tzadik,

Yaffa's father,

who passed away on

11^th of Iyar 5776

Mrs. Sara Wengrowsky

bat R’ Moshe Zev a”h.

who passed away on

10 Tamuz , 5774

Rabbi Reuven Aberman

zt”l

Eretz Hemdah's

beloved friend and

Member of Eretz Hemdah's Amutah
who passed away

on 9 Tishrei, 5776

R' Meir
ben

Yechezkel Shraga Brachfeld

o.b.m

R ' Yaakov ben Abraham & Aisha

and

Chana bat Yaish & Simcha

Sebbag, z"l

Hemdat Yamim

is endowed by

Les & Ethel Sutker

of Chicago, Illinois
in loving memory of
Max and Mary Sutker
and

Louis and Lillian Klein, z”l

A weekly divrei Torah leaflet: A Glimpse at the Parasha, Ask the Rabbi, From the writings of Harav Avraham Yitzchak Hakohen Kook, zt”l, Pninat Mishpat (Jewish Monetary Law).