My cup runs over

A relative recently purchased the book titled Emunah With Love and Chicken Soup and recommended it to me. In fact, she told me that she bought a few copies to give as a Chanukah present to some members of her family. Click here to read an excerpt from the book.

Yaakov davened to Hashem ‘Hatzileini Na MiYad Achi MiYad Eisav"; Save me from my brother from Eisav. The Bais HaLevi asks why does it need to say Achi and Eisav? He answers that the Zohar says when you daven for something you should be as clear as possible in your descriptions. He then asks why does it need to say "MiYad"; from the hands of, twice? Let it just say MiYad Achi Eisav.

He answers that Yaakov felt trapped. The two logical outcomes of meeting Eisav were that Eisav would kill him or the other outcome which was no less frightful for Yaakov was that Eisav would forgive him and they would live together like brothers. As far as Yaakov was concerned Eisav's closeness would cause religious erosion that was as dangerous for Klal Yisroel as physical destruction. He wanted to keep his children as far away from Eisav and his lifestyle as possible. That is why he davened that he should be saved from both being murdered at the hands of "Eisav" as well as "Achi" the brotherly hand that Eisav may want to extend to him.

This says the Bais HaLevi was indicative of the future Galus Edom. During some periods we face destruction from cruel and murderous enemies. At other times we self destruct from the brotherly closeness of our host nations. This freedom ends with assimilation of ideals and lowering our level of Avodas Hashem as well as unfortunately assimilation itself.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Vayishlach-Bais-HaLevi-Eisav-Cant-Beat-Him-Dont-Join-Him/1366

A friend sent me an email this morning with an inspiring message.

HOW A CUP RUNS OVER: On the words of Dovid Hamelech in Tehillim “Kosi Revaya--my cup runs over”--HaRav Avigdor Miler, Z’tl provides the following great insight (in his Sefer Shaarei Orah I, p.96, as brought in Growth Through Tehillim, by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, Shlita): “A cup can only run over if it becomes full first. If there is a hole in the cup, it will never become full and will never run over. This is a lesson for us to constantly remember the good things that Hashem does for us. Don’t forget them. Then the good things will add up--and the happiness will flow!