~ One Hundred Words on the Parsha – VaYeitzei

Rav Hutner refers to Avrohom Aveinu as the “Gevarenner” – the one who became, to Yitzchok as the “Geboiriner” –the one who was born into it, and to Yaacov as the “Fafalliner” – the one who fell into it (meaning that he couldn’t get out). Avrohom was a Ger; from Yaacov and on, there is no way out of being a Jew.

Chazal use the term Mitoso Shelima, which Rav Hutner interprets to mean that Yaakov’s children had no way out, as opposed to Eisav who was able to opt out of being a Yid.

The Haftorah of Parshas Vayeishev says that Yaacov will be a fire and Yosef will be a huge raging fire. Rav Hutner understands this to mean that that Yaacov’s fire will be enlarged by Yosef. Although, all of Yaakov’s descendant’s are automatically Jewish, a man can still marry a non-Jew and have non-Jewish children. Yosef’s refusal to marry Aishes Potifar negated that possibility. He led the way in rejecting intermarriage. That’s why Rashi comments in this weeks Parsha, that when Yosef was born, Eisav’s Soton was born.

Only B’Simcha Parshas VaYetzei

“ותקרא שמו ראובן כי אמרה כי ראה ה' בעניי”

Leah named her first son ראובן meaning that Hashem saw her poverty. When the שבטים are named, the Torah first gives the reason this name was chosen and then states the name. The exception to this listing is ראובן. When naming him the Torah says, “ותקרא שמו ראובן כי אמרה כי ראה ה' בעניי” giving the name and then the reason. The Bais Naftali explains that the Torah was hinting that there was more than one reason for the name ראובן. Chazal tell us that Leah’s intention, in addition to the one stated in the Torah, was to declare that her first born would be unlike her in-laws’ first born. עשו wanted to kill his brother for supplanting him, whereas ראובן graciously acceded to יוסך’s replacing him as the בכור.