B"H

Friday, Kislev 8, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / December 2, 2022

  

In this week’s Parsha, Vayeitzei, we read the story of how Yaakov leaves his parents, who lived in Be’er Sheva, and went to the city of Charan, where his mother’s brother, Lavan, lived. There was a double purpose for this journey; to escape his brother, Esau, who wants to kill him and also to find a wife from among Lavan’s daughters.

 

Q.How old was Yaakov when he came to his father-in-law, Lavan?

 

A. Yaakov was seventy seven when he came to Lavan.

 

After working seven years for Rachel, Lavan fooled him and gave him Leah instead. When Yaakov complained, he told him that for another seven years of work, he will give him Rachel too. In truth, Yaakov worked all fourteen years for Rachel. The first seven years he thought he was working for Rachel, but was fooled and given Leah instead. The second seven years he really worked for Rachel.

 

Q.Yaakov was eighty four when he married Leah. How much later did he marry Rachel?

 

A.The first seven years, Yaakov worked before Lavan gave him his daughter Leah. But the second seven years he worked off after marrying Rachel. A week after his wedding to Leah he married Rachel. Yaakov was 84 when he married Leah and Rachel.

 

Q.How many years did Yaakov stay with his father-in-law, Lavan?

 

A.Twenty years. During this time, eleven of his sons and his daughter, Dina, were born. Yaakov was 97 when he left Lavan; he was 99 when he rejoined his father, Yitzchak, who was 159. His mother Rivkah had already passed away.

 

Q.How old were his children when he left Lavan’s home?

 

A.His oldest son, Reuven, was over Bar Mitzvah and his youngest at that time, Joseph, was 6.

 

Q.  When and where was Yaakov’s twelfth son, Binyamin (Benjamin), born?

 

A.  Binyamin was born two years after Yaakov left his father-in-law. He was born when Yaakon arrived back in the Land of Canaan (Israel). Yaakov was over 100 when Binyamin was born.

 

Q. Did Yaakov leave on good terms with his father-in-law?

 

A.No. Yaakov had to leave with his family and possessions while Lavan was away from home. Yaakov was too valuable to be let go, as G-d blessed Lavan with great wealth as a result of Yaakov. When Lavan found out, he chased after them and wanted to harm them. G-d appeared to him in a dream and warned him not to harm them.

   SHABBAT SHALOM

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