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Torah Talk for Parashat Vayishlach

December 14, 2016 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Yaakov confronts Esav, wrestles with a “man” who blesses him by changing his name to Yisrael, loses his wife Rachel in childbirth, and experiences the trauma of the incident with his daughter Deena.

Towards the end of Birkat Hamazon, Grace After Meals, we say, “As our ancestors Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov [and Sarah, Rivka, Rachel, and Leah] were blessed in everything, from everything, with everything, so may Hashem bless all of us as one.” Like so much else in our liturgy, this phrase has its origins in the Torah. Read more >