11 Nov Attitude of Gratitude – Parshas Vayeitzei
Attitude of Gratitude
Parshas Vayeitzei
Inspired by the teachings of Harav Yitzchak Ginsburgh and Rabbi Moshe Genuth
In the first Parsha of the Torah Bereishit, Eve’ s son Cain killed Abel . This marks the first murder in the World. Eve then gives birth to another son, a 3rd son and named him Seth (Shat ,’appointed’) uttering the blessing of gratitude ‘ because G-d has granted (appointed) me another son ‘Seth’.
Because the world had become increasingly impure (following the descent of Adam and Chave from Gan Eden) due to idolatry, sexual immorality, murder, thievery etc . The speaking of The Name of G-d was considered profane.
As a warning to the deteriorating state of the world (after the fall from Gan Eden), there was first a smaller or partial flood, then the world underwent a transformation of purity with the Flood or Waters of Noah.
Parsha Vayeitzei is the first time in 22 generations (from Adam) where the Torah records a specific utterance to ‘thank G-d ‘. The number 22 is significant as it is the letter Tav- 
, the final and 22nd letter of the aleph-bet which contains within it all the powers of the letters that precede it. These are of course all the letters (the aleph-bet) used to create the Torah and the World. The letter Tav also has a significant gematria value of 400 which is discussed further in Vayishlach: 400, http://www.auraoftorah.com/angel-eyes-vayishlach/ .
The most powerful sparks of Holiness are concealed within the darkness….
Yaakov’s wife Leah had prophecy to be able see the birth of Jewish Nation. Leah had foreseen the first of her 3 pregnancies, however she had not had the vision that she would be given the gift of a 4th son, Yehuda. This was concealed from her.
Leah not being aware of her 4th pregnancy with Judah speaks to the idea that the powerful sparks were being concealed from her from this ‘concealed ‘ pregnancy is due to the extremely powerful sparks (contained within her) of the lineage of King David and Mashiach.
In similar fashion, the continuum of the revelations that lead up to The Final Redemption are the sparks within the darkness that are concealed to-then-be revealed and ignited sparks of Holiness that brings Moshiach.
The name Yehuda contains all the letters of the tetragrammaton , the Name of G-d as Y*-V* ( Yehuda is the only name in the Torah to do so) , plus the letter ‘Dalet’ (4). Yehuda is associated with Kingship and included with the Name of G-d , the letter Dalet is included in merit of King David. Indeed King David is an ancestor of Yehuda as is Mashiach . The name Yehuda also contains the letters of the sefirot Hod; acknowledgment, splendor, sincerity. Together with Hod’s counterpart Netzach, are derived the powers of prophecy and divine inspiration.
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai said that ‘since Creation, no one had ever thanked G-d as Y*-V * [so specifically in Name] until Leah’. Thus 22 generations from Adam and the birth of Seth, on the birth of her 4th son, Leah utters the words ‘This time’ [Yayeitzei 29:35]… indicating the first time since creation, upon the birth of this 4th [unexpected] son from which will come Mashiach, ‘I shall thank G-d [as Y-K-* *] in the specific Name way ’.
As it was with Leah and her 4th child, we may not always see the gifts of G-d , but they are always all around us. Some big, some small, and as this concept from Vayeitzei teaches us, we must always be mindful to give thanks… specific thanks to G-d. We need to keep our eyes and our heart open, and have a pro active attitude on gratitude.
Leib Getzel (Lawrence) Lax
Addictions and Counseling
www.lawrenceJlax.com
www.auraoftorah.com