Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

Download print

Parashat Vayishlah- Every Penny Has a Purpose

We read in Parashat Vayishlah the famous story of Yaakob’s wrestle with an angel, whom our Sages identify as "Saro Shel Esav" – Esav’s angel that was sent from the heavens to fight against Yaakob Abinu.

The Torah tells that the angel attacked Yaakob when he was alone – "Va’yivater Yaakob Le’bado" (32:24). The Gemara explains – surprisingly – that Yaakob was alone because "Shachah Pachim Ketanim" – he forgot some small utensils. As he and his family were making their way back to Eretz Yisrael, he moved everything across a stream, and then realized that there were some small, cheap items which he forgot on the other side, so he went back to get them.

This seems very difficult to understand. Yaakob by now was a very wealthy man. Did he really need to go back for these small utensils? Imagine a multimillionaire, who owns factories and apartment buildings, is traveling and realized that he forgot in his hotel room a mug he had purchased for $4.95. Would he go back to the hotel to get it? Of course not. Yet, Yaakob went back in the middle of the night to retrieve some small, inexpensive items, thus exposing himself to danger, and he was indeed attacked. Why did he do that?

As if this were not surprising enough, the Gemara continues, "We see from here that the money of the righteous is more beloved to them than their bodies." Why would the righteous cherish their money? Doesn’t the Torah teach not to place such emphasis on money?

One answer suggests an analogy to a very poor man who could not even afford a cup with which to wash his hands for Netilat Yadayim. He tearfully begged G-d to provide him with a cup so he could at least fulfill this daily Misva, and sure enough, the next morning he found next to his bed on the floor a simple cup with a sign which read, "Here is the cup you asked for." The man trembled with excitement and shouted for joy, knowing that his prayers were answered.

Sometime later, the man regained his financial footing and eventually became wealthy. He moved into a large house some distance from the small shack where he had lived, and after the movers finished bringing all his belongings he asked about the small cup that he kept under his bed. The movers said that they left it in his old shack.

"We figured, you’re such a wealthy man, so why would you need this cup?"

The man was in shock. Ever since the day he found that cup by his bed, it was one of his most treasured possessions. He drove all the way back to his previous home in order to retrieve it. It was very special to him, because it was given to him directly by G-d.

This is how Yaakob looked at all his possessions, and this is what the Gemara meant when it said that the righteous cherish everything they have. They look at all their worldly belongings, down to the very last simple utensil, as a gift from Hashem. If we own something – no matter how small or insignificant it might seem – it means that Hashem wanted us to have it. This is true of our homes, our cars, our businesses and our appliances, and it is true of our clothing and our silverware. And if Hashem gave us something, it is because He wants us to use it for a purpose. Our dining tables and kitchenware are to be used for honoring Shabbat and Yom Tob, and for hosting guests. The basketball hoop in our driveway is for the children to exercise and release energy so they could develop physically and emotionally and grow to be loyal students and followers of Torah.

This awareness should have a profound impact upon everything we do. Once we realize that each and every penny we have, and each and every thing we own, is given to us by G-d for a purpose, then we will be especially careful with the way we use our money and all our possessions. Nothing we have is insignificant. Everything is a precious gift, which we must ensure to use for a worthwhile purpose – the purpose for which Hashem gave it to us.


Related Parasha
Parashat Vayishlah- The Dangers of the Gentle Touch - 2022 Year
Parashat Vayishlah- The Power of Our Tears - 2021 Year
Parashat Vayishlah: The Foundations of Jewish Kingship - 2020 Year
Parashat Vayishlah: The Deeper Significance of the Story of Shechem - 2019 Year
Parashat Vayishlah- The Bite and the Kiss - 2018 Year
Parashat VaYishlah: “Son of Your Maidservant” - 2016 Year
Parashat VaYishlah: We are the Answer to Yaakob’s Prayer - 2015 Year
Parashat Vayishlah: Dalet and Resh - 2014 Year
Parashat VaYishlah: Yaakov Abinu and the Power of Torah - 2013 Year
Parashat Vayishlah: What Was Esav’s Angel Afraid Of? - 2012 Year
Parashat Vayishlach- Jewish Photosynthesis - 2011 Year
Shabbat Morning Class - Parasha Vayishlach - 2011 Year
Parashat Vayishlah- A Lesson in Showing Gratitude - 2010 Year
Shabbat Morning Class - Parasha Vayishlach - 2010 Year
Shabbat Morning Class - Parasha Vayishlach - 2009 Year
Sefer/Parasha:
Parashat Behaalotecha- Rectification is Always Possible
Parashat Naso- Emuna First
Shavuot- Celebrating the Eternal Torah
Shavuot- The Challenge – and Rewards – of Torah Commitment
Parashat Behar- Experiencing the Sweetness and Delight of Torah
Parashat Emor- Keter Shem Tob 'The Crown of Good Reputation'
Parashat Ahare Mot- Planting Our Spiritual Trees
Parashat Shemini- Respect and Reverence in the Synagogue
Pesah: Redemption Then and Now
Pesah- Its A Mirage
Parashat Vayikra- The Triple Sin of Dishonesty
Parashat Pekudeh- Counting the Things That Matter
Parashat Ki Tisa- The Sanctity of Every Jew
Purim and the Sale of Yosef
Parashat Terumah- The Torah’s “Footsteps”
Page of 67
1002 Parashot found