Summary of Rabbi Elisha Wolfson’s short and powerful Hebrew lesson (Parashat Vaishlach) by AI
Rabbi Wolfson shows clearly and concisely:
Rabbi Elisha Wolfson
Just as Yaakov was punished with many troubles because he delayed fulfilling the vow he made at Beit El (the future Temple Mount), so are we, the Jewish people today, suffering tragedies because we have delayed for 2,000 years fulfilling our national vow to return and build the House of Hashem on the Temple Mount.
The main points:
1. **Yaakov’s vow (many years earlier)**
When fleeing from Eisav, Yaakov stopped at Beit El (the Temple Mount), had the dream of the ladder, and made a vow:
“If the L-rd will be with me… this stone which I have set as a pillar shall become a House of the L-rd” (Genesis 28).
2. **Yaakov delayed fulfilling the vow**
After becoming wealthy in Charan and returning to Israel, Yaakov settled in Shechem and elsewhere, but he did **not** hurry back to Beit El to build the altar and fulfill his vow.
Midrash Tanchuma says: Hashem opened Yaakov’s “account book” because someone who makes a vow and does not pay it is in danger.
3. **Because of the delay, troubles came one after another**
– Eisav came to kill him
– He had to give away huge gifts (200 goats, etc.) – all the wealth he worked for 20 years
– The angel of Eisav wrestled with him and left him limping
– The tragedy of Dina in Shechem
– The death of Rachel on the way
Yaakov was a perfect tzaddik, yet he did not yet understand that all these sufferings were coming because he had not yet fulfilled his vow.
4. **Finally Hashem had to tell him explicitly**
“Arise, go up to Beit El and dwell there, and make there an altar to the Almighty who appeared to you when you fled from Eisav” (Genesis 35:1).
Only then did Yaakov wake up, purify his household from idols, and immediately go up to Beit El.
5. **“Ma’ase Avot Siman LaBanim” – The actions of the fathers are a sign for the children**
Rabbi Wolfson says: We are repeating exactly the same mistake today!
– For 2,000 years in exile, every groom under the chuppah declares: “If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill” – we all made a vow to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple.
– Today we have returned to the Land, we have Jerusalem, we have sovereignty, we build beautiful houses, we enjoy the goodness of the land… but most of the nation still says “the time has not yet come” to go up to the Temple Mount and rebuild the House of Hashem.
– Today we have a state, Jerusalem, sovereignty, beautiful homes – but most of the people still say “the time has not yet come” to ascend the Temple Mount and build the Temple.
– All the troubles and wars – The Holy One Blessed be He, shouts to us through the enemies: “You have delayed your vow! Arise, go up to Beit El!”
– When we awaken and return to the Temple Mount in purity and fulfill our vow – The Holy One, blessed be He, will sweeten all the strict edicts and bring complete redemption with mercy.
6. **The message is crystal clear**
All the pain, all the wars, all the terrorism that come upon us – Hashem is shouting to us through our enemies:
“You delayed your vow! Arise, go up to Beit El (the Temple Mount), dwell there, and build there an altar!”
When we finally wake up, return to the Temple Mount in purity, and begin to fulfill our ancient vow – Hashem will sweeten all the harsh decrees and bring the full redemption with mercy.
**Closing words of the Rabbi:**
“May we all merit to awaken, to return to Zion, to return to the Temple Mount, to build the altar for Hashem, and through this may we merit the complete and merciful redemption – so be His will!”
Comment by the editor: The Eitz Yosef commentary on Midrash Tanchuma, Vayishlach raises the question, why was Rachel’s death associated with Yaakov’s delay in fulfilling his vow. The Biblical verses seem to indicate that Rachel died after Yaakov fulfilled his vow?
He leaves the question unanswered.
If Rachel’s pregnancy lasted 9 months perhaps I found an answer in Midrash Breishit Rabati (35:19) Rabbi Yosi taught in a Braita, “Yaakov spent 6 months at Beit El and offered sacrifices to the L-rd of his father Yitzchak and there he tithed his sons. He left there and Binyamin was born to him. Rachel died on the way …
See Hadar Zekenim to Breishit 35:1 for another possible answer (although it seems at first glance to be a difficult explanation).
Another possible answer is that Rashi to Breishit 31:32 explained that Rachel died from the curse that Yaakov had issued against the person who stole Lavan’s idol, not realizing that Rachel stole the idol in order to help her father abandon idolatry. If Yaakov had left Charan immediately after the birth of Yosef to fulfill his Beit El vow, Rachel would not have had the opportunity to steal the idol and would not have been cursed.
Unfortunately I have not been able to find an important Rabbi that suggested this last answer.