Vayeshev וישב

Parasha Verses

Genesis Chapter 37 Verse 1 - Chapter 40 Verse 23

Haftara Verses

Book of Amos Chapter 2 Verse 6 to Chapter 3 Verse 8

Essence of Parasha Vayeshev

Vayeshev translates as "settles". As it applies to our generation it means "will settle". The story according to the midrash is Jacob decides that he has done his spiritual work. He has had signficant chaos in his life. Having to run from his parents home to avoid the anger of his brother Esau. He spent 20 years in Charan with his Uncle Lavan who continually tried to cheat him changing his wages at least 10 times. During this time he brings the 12 Tribes as well as Dinah his "only" daughter. He causes the death of his favorite wife Rachel through his Loshon HaRah statement to his father in law Lavan. Finally he thinks he can rest - he has done enough. This is a human response but the Creator has a different idea in mind. Jacob's chaos increases due to his settling into not doing his spiritual work. We can use this parasha as our vaccine against settling. As long as we are in this physical world there is more spiritual work to do. Remember this and NEVER SETTLE. There is always more spiritual work to do. Just by living your life and causing light to be revealed you are causing others to do their spiritual work. Learn this well and often. Their are no vacations while in the physical world. Yes we can go on trips to different parts of the country or different parts of the world. Still that just means we have sparks of light to elevate in those locations.

Comments from the Year 5778

Shabbat Vayeshev: Vayeshev is a word that means either "and settled" or "and will settle". Which meaning applies is a function of the generation. Biblical generations relate to "and settled"; while current generations relate to "and will settle". This is my opinion. In this parasha we have the story of Joseph's many colored - many striped coat. The Torah tells us that this coat created jealousy and hatred between Joseph and his brothers. The Zohar teaches us a very different understanding regarding this Torah story. The phrase that is translated as "many colored - many striped coat" is Ketonet Pasim - כתנת פסים. The above translation is a forced and not a clean translation. The word Ketonet is being translated as "coat". A better meaning and translation would take into account the letter caf at the beginning of the word translates as "like". The next two letters sounding as Tenu relates to the word "give". The Tav at the end of the word translates as "note". Thus the parsed word translates as "give like a note". The word Pasim can be parsed into "Sea of Stripes", Sea is a code word for Torah. Torah can be translated as law or teaching. Rashi the foremost biblical commentary says that Pasim is an acronym for Josephs troubles: Pei is Potiphar; Sameck is Socarim - merchants; Yood is Ishmaelites; Mem is Midianites. All 4 relate to the 4 sales of Joseph as a slave that he endured on his route into Egypt - according to the Midrash. The Zohar says that Pasim is an acronym for the Angels that would protect Joseph on this journey into Egypt and slavery. This allows us to see how the spiritual world and the physical world work in tandem. The energy of the parasha Vayeshev is a vaccine against settling. What is wrong with settling? All of us are in this world to do spiritual work. When we settle we have stopped doing that thatspiritual work. As the Torah and the Zohar explain when we stop doing our spiritual work the true chaos begins. In Jacobs world view his plan for his descendants growing into a nation was destroyed. That is chaos. His daughter is raped and becomes pregnant - that is chaos. Most of all he has 22 years of separation from the Shechinah due to his sadness. That is true chaos. In Chapter 37 Verse there is a word Et which has 2 dots over the word. The Zohar explains that HaShem causes the Shechinah to do the actions directed by HaShem so that Joseph is sent into Egypt as part of the plan of creation. Without those dots we would never understand this truth. In this parasha written as an aside between the selling of Joseph and the arrival of Joseph into Egypt, is the birth of the line leading to Mashiach. Why is it written in this Parasha? The answer in my opinion, is that there are times in everyones life that is calming and settling. When that happens events occur that begins the process leading to return to the Endless World. Or actually growing our joy and happiness. Joy and Happiness is how chaos is removed fully. Verse Kabbalistic Analysis: Genesis Chapter 37 Verse 1 וישב יעקב בארץ מגורי אביו בארץ כנען And Jacob settled in the land of his father's sojourning, in the land of Canaan. Wayashev Yakov BaArtz Megorai Aviv BaAretz Canaan. 7 words connects to the physical world. This is the Sefirah of Malchut - Kingdom and Manifestation. 29 Letters connects to the month of Av - Father. 29 is the gematria of the Hebrew word that translates as "broken spirit". In my opinion this refers to Jacob's reaction to the sale / death of Joseph. Shiluv Tool: First Letters This is my intuitive connection. You need to do this for yourself as well. ויבמאבכ - rela The gematria of the first letters is 81. 81 is the gematria of the word Anochi. Anochi translates as "i". This is an indication that this verse relates to the ego. What separates man from HaShem is ego, /tge connection is clear. Shiluv Tool: Final Letters This is my intuitive connection. You need to do this for yourself as well. בבציוצן - The gematria of these letters is 250. 250 is the gematria of the Hebrew word Ner which translates as candle or light. This is teaching us that within this parasha will be the energy of Light manifesting at the end of days. This is the essence of Mashiach.

Comments from the Year 5777

The reading of the Parasha on Shabbat can be used as a vaccine to never settle for your current level of spiritual growth. As long as you are in the physical world you have more spiritual work to do. Do you know what is your spiritual work? Do you want to know? If something is uncomfortable for you then it is part of your spiritual work.

Number of Verses

There is 112 verses in the Parasha. 112 is the same gematria of the word Yabok יבק.In the last Parasha of Vayishlach Jacob crossed the River Yabok to retrieve a lost item and then wrestled with the Angel of Edom, eventually prevailing. When we change the order of the last two letters the word Yabok translates as "Active Crutch". This is an indication that the essence of the Parasha can be used as a crutch - a support mechanism to continue your spiritual work.

Sunday

English Translation of the Portion of Zohar for Sunday

Based on Zohar

Translated and annotated by Rahmiel-Hayyim Drizin from the Zohar selection in Hok L'Yisrael

Monday

English Translation of the Portion of Zohar for Monday

Based on Zohar

Translated and annotated by Rahmiel-Hayyim Drizin from the Zohar selection in Hok L'Yisrael

Tuesday

English Translation of the Portion of Zohar for Tuesday

Based on Zohar

Translated and annotated by Rahmiel-Hayyim Drizin from the Zohar selection in Hok L'Yisrael

Wednesday

English Translation of the Portion of Zohar for Wednesday

Based on Zohar

Translated and annotated by Rahmiel-Hayyim Drizin from the Zohar selection in Hok L'Yisrael

Thursday

English Translation of the Portion of Zohar for Thursday

Based on Zohar vayikra 15a

Translated and annotated by Rahmiel-Hayyim Drizin from the Zohar selection in Hok L'Yisrael

Thursday_Evening

Friday

English Translation of the Portion of Zohar for Friday

Based on Zohar

Translated and annotated by Rahmiel-Hayyim Drizin from the Zohar selection in Hok L'Yisrael

This page is continuously being added to as the statistics are developed for each Parasha. Just as the Torah is infinite, the statistics for the Torah are unlimited. Each statistic is part of what the Torah teaches. . . Spiritual Laws and Mitzvoth. As each item is revealed the explanation will be added.