Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Vayishlach

The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.

In the fifth aliyah of this week's parsha is the troubling story of Dina who was violated by Shechem. R' Frand quoted a vort from R' Elya Svei (sp?) to try to explain how this episode occurred.

There is a Medrash in Parshas Vayeitzei which states that a person should not be praised based on what will happen tomorrow, because it is unknown what will happen tomorrow. When Ya'akov was dealing with Lavan in Vayeitzei, he said to Lavan (Bereishis 30:33) V'ansa Bi Tzidkasi Machar (translated as let my integrity testify for me in the future). In so doing, Ya'akov was saying to Lavan, my righteousness will show that I have worked so hard for you. 

But what was wrong with saying this? Why could he not stand on his integrity?

R' Frand answered that Ya'akov was resting on his deeds, saying that they will insure his success in the future. However, a person needs to know that every day is a present and that each day he needs to have help from above and that he cannot rely on his actions from the day before as insurance that he will be successful today. 

Its not coincidental that the word used for the violation of Dina is "Vay'aneha". The root of inui is similar to the word oneh, which means answer. The Medrash linked the two events to say that a person cannot rely on what happened in the past, he needs to work and daven for the future as well.

R' Frand also said a nice vort about Chanukah which was somewhat linked to this vort. I hope to iyh blog that vort over the weekend.

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