B"H
Tuesday, Kislev 5, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / November 29, 2022
In this week’s Parsha, Vayeitzei, the Torah describes Yaakov's journey to Charan, to find a wife from the daughters of his uncle, Lavan. Yaakov was seventy-seven years old at the time and was afraid of the unknown. After spending the night at Mount Moriah, where he had his famous dream in which he saw a ladder extending from earth to heaven and angels going up and down, G-d promised to protect and watch over him wherever he went.
Refreshed and assured of G-d’s protection, Yaakov comes to a well in a field near the city of Charan. There, he sees many shepherds gathered with their flock near the well. A huge stone covers the well. The stone was so heavy that many shepherds were required to roll it off.
At the well, Yaakov meets his cousin Rachel coming with her father's flock. Upon seeing her, Yaakov single-handedly lifts the stone from the well and leads her flock to drink. Yaakov tells her who he is and she runs to tell her father.
Yaakov offers to work seven years for Lavan in order to marry his younger daughter, Rachel. Lavan accepts. The Torah describes Yaakov’s work for Rachel as follows: "Yaakov worked seven years for Rachel, but they seemed to him like a few days, for the love he had for her."
However, after the seven years, Lavan, the cheat who he was, fools Yaakov and gives him his older daughter, Leah, instead. The next morning "Yaakov says to Lavan, "What have you done to me? Did I not serve you for Rachel? Why have you cheated me?"
Lavan replies, "It is not done so in our country to give the younger before the older. Fulfill her week and we will give you also Rachel for the service which you will serve for me another seven years.”
Yaakov agrees and after a week he also marries Rachel and continued working another seven years.
Q. What is the meaning of, "Fulfill her week”. What is the significance of the week?
A. The seven days after a marriage ceremony are called "Shivaat Yemei Hamishte" - "Seven days of feast and rejoicing." These are seven joyous days for the bride and groom. Seven blessings are recited each of the seven days over a cup of wine at the conclusion of the Grace-after-meal.
Q. Why is it customary at a wedding that the groom is led to Chupah (wedding canopy) before the bride?
A. The Giving of the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai is compared to a wedding ceremony – a wedding between G-d and the Jewish people. Thus, many of our wedding customs are rooted in the Giving of the Torah. At the Giving of the Torah G-d (the Groom) appeared at Mount Sinai before the Jewish people and waited for the bride (the Jewish people). So too, the groom comes to the Chupah first.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY