Thursday, Kislev 10, 5784 / November 23, 2023

This week’s Parsha Vayeitzei tells the story of Yaakov leaving his parents’ home, because his brother, Esau, wanted to kill him. He went to his uncle, Lavan, who lived in Charan.  On the way he had a dream in which he saw a ladder extending from earth all the way to heaven and angels were going up and down the ladder.  G-d promises him that He will watch over him, bless him and return him in safety.

When he came to Charan he met his cousin Rachel at a well, where she came with her father’s sheep.  He showed great strength by removing the rock from the mouth of the well and gave her sheep to drink. Yaakov wants to marry Rachel and offers his uncle, Lavan, to work for him for seven years for Rachel. Lavan agrees but on the wedding night he gave him his older daughter, Leah, instead of Rachel.  When Yaakov complained, his uncle responds that it is not proper to give the younger daughter before the older one.  Yaakov offers to work another seven years for Rachel.  Lavan accepts and Yaakov also marries Rachel.  In addition to Leah and Rachel, Yaakov marries two more daughters of Lavan, Bilha and Zilpa. From these four wives Yaakov had twelve sons, from which the Ten Tribes were descendant. He also has one daughter, Dina. 

Although Yaakov came to Lavan a poor man, when he left Lavan, he had great wealth, due to G-d’s blessings.   At the end of the Parsha we read how Yaakov, knowing the character of his father-in-law, was afraid that he will not let him leave with his wives and children, decides to leave while Lavan was away.  Lavan chased after them, but Lavan was warned in a dream not to harm Yaakov. Thus, this Parsha begins with Yaakov’s dream and ends with Lavan’s dream.

Q.   How old was Yaakov when he left his parents and how old when he came to Lavan?

A.   Yaakov was 63 when he left his parents.  On the way to Lavan he stopped at the yeshiva of Ever, where he studied for 14 years.  Thus, when Yaakov came to Lavan he was 77.

Q.    How old was Yaakov when he married Leah? How old was he when he married Rachel?

A.   As mentioned, he worked seven years before he married Leah. Yaakov waited seven days then married Rachel.  He was 84 when he married Leah and Rachel.

Q.    How many years did Yaakov stay with Lavan?

A.    Twenty years. Fourteen years he worked so he can marry Leah and Rachel.  He worked another six years for Laven and was blessed by G-d with great wealth.

Q.    Who else, in the Torah, had to flee from someone who wanted to kill him and met his future wife, who was leading her father’s sheep at the well? 

A.   Moshe.  The Torah tells us (Exodus 2:16) that when Moshe fled Pharaoh, who wanted to kill him, he met his future wife, Tzipporah, at a well. The other shepherds would chase them away, but Moshe helped them and gave their flock to drink. 

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

WITH SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL