1. In this weeks Parshah Ya’akov Avinu (our father) meets with his brother Eisav after many years of not seeing each other. When Ya’akov Avinu had taken the Blessing from his father Yitzchak that was “supposed” to go to his brother Eisav he ran away in fear of Eisav’s wrath. Now Ya’akov Avinu is about to meet with his brother Eisav for the first time after this incident. Ya’akov Avinu is nervous about what his brother Eisav will do to him and therefore he sends angels to speak to Eisav before he actually sees him again.
2. Part of the message that Ya’akov Avinu tells the angels to give over to Eisav is “Eem Lavan Garti – I lived as a guest with Lavan” (see Chapter 32, Verse 5). Rashi (an acronym for Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, he wrote a super-commentary on the Bible and Talmud) writes that what Ya’akov Avinu meant to tell his brother Eisav was that he had kept all of the 613 Torah commandments even though he had lived with their wicked Uncle Lavan. Rashi writes that he knows this explanation because the word “Garti – I lived as a guest” has the numerical value of 613, and the total amount of commandments from the Torah is 613.
The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Vayishlach
The Rebbe says:
1. In this weeks Parshah Ya’akov Avinu (our father) meets with his brother Eisav after many years of not seeing each other. When Ya’akov Avinu had taken the Blessing from his father Yitzchak that was “supposed” to go to his brother Eisav he ran away in fear of Eisav’s wrath. Now Ya’akov Avinu is about to meet with his brother Eisav for the first time after this incident. Ya’akov Avinu is nervous about what his brother Eisav will do to him and therefore he sends angels to speak to Eisav before he actually sees him again.
2. Part of the message that Ya’akov Avinu tells the angels to give over to Eisav is “Eem Lavan Garti – I lived as a guest with Lavan” (see Chapter 32, Verse 5). Rashi (an acronym for Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, he wrote a super-commentary on the Bible and Talmud) writes that what Ya’akov Avinu meant to tell his brother Eisav was that he had kept all of the 613 Torah commandments even though he had lived with their wicked Uncle Lavan. Rashi writes that he knows this explanation because the word “Garti – I lived as a guest” has the numerical value of 613, and the total amount of commandments from the Torah is 613.
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