Jacob's reaction to Simeon & Levi's attack on Schem can only be explained in that he was afraid of becoming like Esau. There is some Esau in all of us and we have to fight to keep Esau at bay. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/shlomo-bar-ayal6/message

The Ari once commented that Rachel is not buried where people think she is but that does not matter since so many Jews have prayed there it is as if she is there. We can make a place holy by our actions. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/shlomo-bar-ayal6/message

Simeon and Levi destroy the city of Schem for what Hamor did to Dinah. Why the entire city for what one person did? Because the rest of the people approved of Hamor's actions. They were all complicit. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/shlomo-bar-ayal6/message

Chamor did not think that he did anything wrong in abducting and raping Dina. She was from outside his tribe and therefore fair game. The Torah teaches that this attitude was evil. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/shlomo-bar-ayal6/message

Jacob has to negotiate with Esau. Jacob has to mollify Esau so that he can enter to the Land. He treats him with the respect that Esau doesn't deserve. He does this so that he can accomplish his goal. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/shlomo-bar-ayal6/message

Jacob stayed behind to find a small vessel. Why, if he was wealthy at this point did he worry about such a minor detail. It is to teach us to worry about the minor details while keeping our eyes on the goal. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/shlomo-bar-ayal6/message

Jacob realizes that the danger of staying with Laban is that he will become like him. He knows the best way to avoid this is to leave and return home. It should be remembered that Jacob has goals but he is a realist. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/shlomo-bar-ayal6/message

When we begin this week's portion we see that Jacob is running from his brother who wants to kill him. He meets his uncle who wants to cheat him. Yet he is grateful for the gifts that God has given him. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/shlomo-bar-ayal6/message

Rachel steals Laban's idols because she doesn't want her father to worship idols. While her motive was good her action was not. We are not allowed to do the wrong thing for the right reason. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/shlomo-bar-ayal6/message

In this week's portion we see Leah accusing Rachel of "stealing" Jacob when it was the other way around. This is to teach that Leah was so unhappy that she mistook their history. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/shlomo-bar-ayal6/message