Parshas Vayeitzei Shabbos Times Erev Shabbos Shabbos Day Plag HaMincha 6:52pm Latest time for Shema 9:30am Candle Lighting 8:05pm Shabbos Ends 9:12pm Shkiya 8:22pm Shaarei Shabbos Riddles 1. You are one of the judges in a Beis Din in a capital case. It is your turn to state your opinion. If you say, "I find the defendant innocent," then the defendant receives the death penalty. But if you say, "I find the defendant guilty," he goes 'free.' What is the case? 2. There is a day in the Jewish Calendar when some years we say Hallel and other years we say Tachanun. Which day is it? 3. For which child born to Leah is there no reason given for the name? 4. Aside from the seven years that Yaakov worked for Rachel and Leah, where else in this parsha is the number seven mentioned? 5. What item, mentioned in this parsha, is the tallest thing described in the entire Torah? SMS your answers to 0425858502 to enter into the raffle to win a prize Short Vort on the Parsha This week's Parsha recounts the birth of the shevatim. When Leah gave birth to her fourth child, she exclaimed, "This time I will give thanks to Hashem; and she called him Yehuda" (Bereishis 29:35). Chazal tell us (Brochos 7b) that from the time the world was created, no one gave thanks to Hashem until Leah came along and gave thanks to Hashem. What prompted Leah to do what no one preceding her had ever done, and why did she wait until her fourth child to offer her thanks? Rashi explains that our Matriarchs were prophetesses and they knew that Yaakov would have twelve children. If they were divided equally, each of Yaakov's four wives would bear three children. Thus, when Leah gave birth to her fourth child, she realized that she had received more than her fair share, which inspired her to give thanks to Hashem. Rav Wolbe (Alei Shur vol. II p. 282) elaborates on this idea. Regarding the mitzvah of bikkurim the Torah commands us to bring the first fruit to the Beis Hamikdosh and declare that the fruits are the produce of the land that Hashem promised our forefathers. Rashi (Devarim 26:3) explains that this declaration is necessary so that the farmer should not fall into the category of those who deny Hashem's kindness. Accordingly, we are obligated to acknowledge every kindness that Hashem bestows upon us. Yet, when He blesses a person with more than he deserves, he has an added obligation. He must now thank Hashem for His great kindness. How many times a day are we the recipients of Hashem's kindness? The very least that we must do is to acknowledge these blessings. Truth be told, most of this kindness is more than we deserve. Thus, it is incumbent upon us to not only acknowledge His kindness but to thank Him for granting us more than is warranted by our merits.