B"H
Friday, Kislev 5, 5785 / December 6, 2024
This week’s Parsha, Vayeitzei, is about Yaakov’s (Jacob) leaving his parents, Yitzchak & Rivkah, and travelling to his uncle, Lavan, in Charan.
Arriving in Charan Yaakov stopped at a well, where he met his cousin and future wife, Rachel. He cries when he meets Rachel. Rachel introduces him to her father, Lavan, who invites him to stay with them.
He marries Lavan’s daughters, Leah & Rachel. He also marries Zilpah & Bilha, who were also Lavan’s daughters from another wife. In the Parsha we read how Yaakov worked for his father-in-law. The Parsha concludes with Yaakov leaving Lavan to return to his parents.
Our sages note that Yitzchak, Yaakov, and Moshe found their soul-wives near water. Yitzchak's wife, Rivkah, was chosen by Eliezer at the well after she offered to draw water for his camels. Yaakov met Rachel at the well. Moshe also met his wife Tziporah at a well. Water is a sign of blessing.
Q.How many years did Yaakov stay with his father-in-law, Lavan?
A.Twenty years. Yaakov was 77 when he came to Lavan and 97 when he left.
Q.Why did Yaakov cry when he met his cousin and future wife, Rachel, at the well?
A.Our sages give two reasons: 1) In contrast to when his mother, Rivkah, got engaged, she was showered with gifts, but Yaakov came empty-handed and had nothing to give Rachel, so he cried. The reason he came empty handed is because Esau’s son chased after Yaakov and took whatever he had.
2) He knew through divine prophecy that she would not be buried together with him. Indeed, as we will read in next week’s Parsha, Rachel was buried in Bethlehem, not in the family burial plot in Hebron.
Q.Which of Yaakov’s wives was buried with him in Hebron?
A.His wife Leah, who was the mother of six of his sons and his daughter, Dina.
Q.The Parsha tells us that when he came to Lavan, he came empty handed. How did he leave Lavan?
A.He left with his four wives, a family of eleven sons and one daughter. He also left with great wealth.
Q.Why did he stay with Lavan for 20 years?
A.The first 14 years he worked for his father-in-law, Lavan as payment for the right to marry his daughters, Rachel & Leah. At the end of 14 years, he was about to leave, but Lavan asked him to stay because Lavan realized that he was being blessed in Yaakov’s merit. Yaakov agreed to stay for another six years in which G-d blessed Yaakov with great wealth.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 3:53 / Shabbat ends: 5:01
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW