Parshat Vayeitzei

And he encountered the place (Bereishit 28:11)

Here’s a very short vort for the Parsha. Why it’s so short…it’s a micro-vort!

Yaakov leaves Bersheva and travels to Charan, where his uncle Lavan lives. En route, he encounters “the place” – Mount Moriah. The Pasuk describing the place, is one of the sources for Maariv, the evening prayer.

According to Rabbi Joshua ben Levi in Midrash Rabbah, the patriarchs established our three daily Tephillot (prayers).

Avraham instituted Shacharit, the morning prayer, because in Bereishit 19:27 it says, “And Avraham got up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before God.”

Isaac instituted Mincha, the afternoon prayer, because it says in Bereishit/Genesis: 24:63) “And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening.”

Jacob instituted Maariv, the evening prayer, as it says , “And he encountered The Place… because the sun had set.”

Here’s a dish with three vegetables.

Three Salad

• 1 lb green beans
• 4 red peppers
• 1/2 lb mushrooms
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 – 1 teaspoon salt (to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon garlic (to taste)

Directions:

1. Trim green beans. Cut peppers in strips and slice mushrooms in half.
2. Drizzle oil and spices on the vegetables and bake in the oven at 400 F for 20 minutes.

Enjoy!

B’tayavon and have a great Shabbat.

Parshat Vayeitzei

At the beginning of this Parsha Yakov departs from Beersheva and travels to Haran. He spends the night on the way and has a dream in which a ladder extends from earth to heaven. Angels ascend and descend the ladder. God appears in the dream and promises that Yakov’s progeny will be a great nation.

Here’s a nice vort about these angels. According to the Sefat Emet, the ladder in the dream starts on earth and extends up to heaven. The foot of the ladder is in the physical world but rises to a totally spiritual one. In Pirkei Avot it says that worldly manners precedes Torah. The angels that rise and go down represent different angels. The ones that accompanied Yakov in Israel weren’t the same ones that traveled with him outside Israel. Angels that accompanied Yaakov in Eretz Yisrael are not the same as those outside Israel, just as Shabbat angels differ from those of weekdays. On Friday night we sing Shalom Aleichem, which refers to the changing of the angels.

 

Genesis 28:12 12. And he dreamed, and behold! a ladder set up on the ground and its top reached to heaven; and behold, angels of God were ascending and descending upon it.

This week’s recipe is about dreams. My mom used to make ‘dream’ squares which I thought would be a fine idea. When I looked for recipes for Yaakov’s dream I discovered a whole array of dream desserts: dream cookies, dream cups, dream bars, and dream puddings. I have no idea why. This one seemed yummy and it really is. This recipe comes straight from the Nestle’s website.

Double Chocolate Chip Dream Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup baking cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups (12-oz pkg) chocolate chips

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 375° F.COMBINE flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a small bowl. Beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl until creamy. Beat in eggs for about 2 minutes or until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.BAKE for 8 to 10 minutes or until cookies are puffed. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

B’tayavon and have a great Shabbos!