PARSHAT VAYESHEV

We have just learned from the incident of Dina how careful a woman needs to be to protect herself. Nevertheless, Tamar goes out to sit by the crossroads, where everyone passes, in order to seduce Yehudah. Not only is she unharmed, but she is even rewarded by conceiving the sprout of Messiah.

OUTER DISGRACE - INNER PRAISE

"And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold your father-in-law goes up to Timna to shear his sheep. And she put off her widow's garments, and covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat by the entrance to Enayim, which is by the way to Timna; for she saw that Shela was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife" (Bereishit 38:13-14). According to Abarbanel, the many coincidences that lead to the union between Yehuda and Tamar allude to the fact that Hashem is at work behind the scenes. Malbim explains that besides discerning that Shela had grown, Tamar also realized that Yehuda's wife had died and that he was, therefore, free to fulfill the mitzva of Yibum (Levirate marriage). It was also clear to her that Yehuda had already been consoled, since he went up to shear his sheep, an event usually accompanied by joyous partying. Tamar sat in Petach Enayim in order to meet Yehuda and convince him to marry her. Sforno points out that her intentions were for the sake of Heaven. She understood that Meshiach had to be born from the union between her and Yehuda, for he was more perfect than Shela.

THE ANGEL OF HER PRAYER

"And he turned to her by the way, and said, Come now, please, let me come in to you, (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law)" (Ibid. 16). Scripture did not state the usual "And he went to her," but rather "and he turned to her." Baalei Tosfot explains that he wanted to pass by, when Tamar lifted her eyes and prayed: "Ribon Haolamim, (Master of the Universe) do I not have the zchut (merit) to bring forth a wise son from the body of this Tzaddik?" Immediately G-d sent the angel Michael to turn him back. Thus, Tamar's prayers had the power to create an angel and influence the will of Yehuda, as the Midrash says, ...Yehudah wanted to pass on, when Hashem sent the angel in charge of physical desire. He said to him; "Yehuda where are you going? Where are kings standing? And from where do the great come forth?" "And he turned to her on the way (Berashit 38:16) - against his will" (Midrash Raba 85:8).

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