I love social media - how else would I find these interesting little articles that aren't found in the mainstream media!?
Today I found an article on making a DIY Sustainable Hanukkiah for your Hanukkah celebration - check it out here:
The article also linked to this site on Hazon, a Jewish environmental organization. There you can find a list of healthy, sustainable ways to celebrate Hanukkah. There are ideas on making your own green Hanukkah decorations to a list of resources for an eco-conscious, sustainable holiday.
We often forget how to transmit the idea of something for our younger audience. Check out this piece, written two early childhood educators, how to bring part of the Hanukkah story to life.
"Jacob sent (vayishlach) messengers ahead to his brother Esau in the land of Seir..."
Our story continues 20 years after last week's parsha, Vayetze, where Jacob left Canaan for Haran,
meeting Rachel and entering into a problematic betrothal agreement with
her father, Laban, that ended with his marriage to both Rachel and her
older sister, Leah. In ParshatVayishlach,
Jacob decides to return to Canaan with his large family, and begins to
nervously prepare for his reunion with his estranged brother Esau, whose
land they must pass through during their travels. His messengers return
with the report that Esau is bringing 400 men to his meeting with
Jacob. Obviously threatened by this news, Jacob divides up his family
and flocks into two camps, hoping that one will survive if the other
faces what Jacob considers to be an inevitable attack. After sending
Esau a lavish gift of animals, Jacob begins the process of moving along
his entourage. Once he safely sees the last across a river, Jacob was
left alone. That evening, he wrestles with a mysterious "man" who
injures Jacob in the thigh, leaving him with a limp, and bestowing upon
him a new name, Yisrael,
meaning "one who has struggled/wrestled with God." Eventually, Jacob
and Esau meet without incident and peacefully go their separate ways.
After a brief detour through Shechem, God tells Jacob to travel on to Bethel
and to build an altar there. Once they arrive in the appointed place,
God appears to Jacob and confirms upon him this new name of Yisrael
and reaffirms with him the covenant made between God and the family of
Abraham. Rachel dies in childbirth (with Benjamin) and is buried along
the road to Ephrat. Isaac dies at the ripe old age of 180, and both Esau and Jacob do their duty by their father and bury him. The parshaconcludes with the recitation of the genealogy of Esau's descendants.
A few questions for your Shabbat table:
Jacob's new name was Yisrael, or Israel, which means to struggle with God. What does it mean to struggle with God? Have you ever struggled with God?
A person's name is very important, sometimes telling what the person is like. In the Torah, when someone's name is changed, it means that the person has changed too. How do you think Jacob changed when he became Yisrael? What does your name teach you?
Part of ParshatVayishlach
shows us the tension Jacob anticipated in his meeting with Esau. Have
you ever had a fight with anyone in your family? How did you feel? What
feelings did you have to wrestle with in order to make peace with each
other?
Jacob received his new name after he wrestled with a man (ish,
in Hebrew), but his new name says that he wrestled with God, not a man.
Why do you think this is? Was the mysterious wrestler a man, or perhaps
something else?
Many synagogues are called "Beth El," like the site in this parsha
where God tells Jacob to build an altar. Beth El literally means "a
house of God" - what do you think makes a synagogue like a house of God?
And for your viewing pleasure, this week's parsha from g-dcast.com, narrated by incomparable Dara Horn:
Hanukkah usually brings to mind images of flickering candlelight, the aroma of gently frying potatoes and onion, and the sweet taste of a jelly filled sufganiyah, or donut. It has been a while since I've attempted to make my own jelly-filled donuts for this holiday, but after seeing this post over at kveller.com, I'm highly tempted to try this Cafe Du Monde specialty. Try it out and let us know how yours came out - I think Nutella would make an excellent filling!
Parshat Vayeitzei, the seventh portion in the book of Genesis (Bereisheet), tells of Jacob leaving (va'yeitzei - and he left) Beer Sheva and headed for Haran. Along the way, he stops for the evening, and goes to sleep, using a stone for a pillow. That night he had dreamt of a ladder than stretched up to the heavens with angels ascending and descending the structure. God stands beside Jacob and tells him that the land on which he stands will one day belong to Jacob and his descendants and they will be blessed. Additionally, God promises that Jacob will return safely to his home.
In Haran, Jacob comes to his Uncle Laban's house, and falls in love with Laban's daughter, Rachel. In exchange for Rachel's hand, Jacob agrees to work for seven years. At the end of the seven years, the wedding feast Jacob prepares to marry Rachel, but finds Leah as his bride instead. Understandably upset by this outcome, Jacob confronts Laban, only to be told that it is not Laban's practice to marry off the younger daughter before the older. The agree that Jacob will be allowed to marry Rachel as well, but must work another seven years.
After his many years of servitude and the births of many children, Jacob decides it is time to leave his uncle's home and return to the land of his birth. Jacob and Laban work out an agreement over the payment of Jacob's wages, but Laban's sons are unhappy with the arrangement. With Laban suddenly expressing some doubts as well and the situation becoming increasingly tense, Jacob, Rachel, and Leah decide to leave quickly, not even stopping to say goodbye. On the way, Rachel steals her father's set of idols. When Laban discovers that these important items are missing, he persues his daughters and son-in-law. Laban catches up with the groups, and he and Jacob discuss the matter, eventually resolving a number of issues that had built up between the two of them over Jacob's twenty years with Laban's household. The two reconcile, and Jacob and his family resume their journey.
Questions for your Shabbat table:
When Jacob awoke from his dream, he sensed God's presence and was changed. Have you ever had a dream experience that had such an effect on you?
During his time in Haran, Jacob is the victim of tricks and lies. What do you do when you think someone is not being honest with you?
Have you ever lied to anyone? How does it make you feel? How do you think the other person feels if they discover the truth?
Is it ever acceptable to lie? Why or why not?
At the end of the portion, Jacob and Laban discuss their disagreements and are able to resolve some of their differences. Can you think of someone with whom you disagree with whom you could make peace?
