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ב"ה

Vayishlach 5765 - November 26, 2004

Your Soul Can Be in Two Places at the Same Time

The disciples of Rabbi DovBer of Mezeritch gathered around his bed to hear their teacher speak about Jacob's angels. It was the last Shabbat of the chassidic master's life...
Parshah
Vayishlach in a Nutshell
Jacob’s confrontation with Esau, the long journey to Seir, the abduction of Dinah, Reuben’s sin, and the eight primordial kings of Edom.
Why is Jewish Law so Petty Minded?

Why the obsession with such insignificant details as how many ounces of matza do I eat, which spoon did I use for milk and which for meat, what is the right way to tie my shoelaces? It seems to me that this misses the bigger picture by focusing on minutiae
The River and the Pitcher

Jacob straddled the river, one foot planted on each bank. He passed his family and possessions across the divide. He now had to make the move himself . . . The hosts of heaven gathered to see which way he would lean.
Story
The Two-Way Mouth

The Baal Shem Tov did not tell them where to go, nor did they ask; they allowed divine providence to direct their wagon where it may, confident that the purpose of their trip would be revealed in due time.
Parenting
Productive Communication

An old chassidic saying posits that there are three types of conversations: 1) Everyone talks and nobody listens. 2) One person talks and others listen. 3) No one talks and everyone listens...
A person's animal self is concerned only with its own needs, while his G‑dly soul seeks the good of its fellow. So when two Jews get together, the result is two G‑dly souls against a single animal soul.
— Rabbi DovBer of Lubavitch