B"H
Wednesday, Kislev 6, 5779 / November 13, 2018
In this week’s Parsha, Vayeitzei, the Torah relates how Yaakov came to the city of Charan, after having his famous dream the night before, with the ladder and the angels going up and down on it.
He stopped at the well where he meets the shepherds with their flock gathered at the well. The well is covered with a huge rock which takes the effort of all the shepherds to roll it off.
Then Yaakov sees his cousin Rachel coming to the well with her father’s flock. Upon seeing her, Yaakov all by himself removes the rock and lets the animals drink. “He then kissed Rachel and he wept loudly.” Yaakov tells her that he is her cousin. Rachel runs to tell her father, Lavan, who brings Yaakov home, where Yaakov becomes a shepherd for his flock.
Lavan has two daughter’s, Leah and Rachel. After staying one month with Lavan, he says to Yaakov, “Should you work for me for free just because you are my relative?” Yaakov answers, “I will work for you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.” Lavan agrees.
After the seven years, Lavan tricked Yaakov and gave him Leah instead. When Yaakov complained, Lavan said, “In our place we don’t give the younger one before the older one. If you agree to work another seven years, I will give you Rachel as a wife too.” Yaakov agreed. Lavan gave him Rachel as a wife and Yaakov worked another seven years after his marriage to Rachel.
In addition Yaakov married Bilha and Zilpa (also daughters of Lavan). At the end of the Parsha, Yaakov returns to his father’s home with his four wives, eleven sons and one daughter. Yaakov’s youngest son, Binyamin, was born once he came back to Israel. Thus, all of Yaakov’s children, except for Binyamin, were born outside of Israel.
Q. How old was Yaakov when he came to Lavan?
A. Yaakov left his parents at the age of 63. He then spent 14 years studying at the Yeshiva of Noach’s great grandson, Eiver. Yaakov was 77 when he came to Lavan. He then worked 7 years before marrying Leah. Thus, Yaakov was 84 when he was married.
Q. How many years did Yaakov stay with Lavan?
A. Twenty years. Then it took Yaakov another two years to get back to Hebron, where his father lived. His mother, Rivkah, had just passed away before Yaakov returned. Yaakov was away 22 years.
Because Yaakov was away 22 years from his parents (the 14 years of Torah study are not counted) and didn’t perform the mitzvah of honoring his parents, his son Yosef (Joseph) ended up in Egypt, away from Yaakov for 22 years.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY