B"H

Tuesday, Kislev 5, 5776 / November 17, 2015

This week’s Parsha Vayeitzei. In the Parsha the Torah relates the story of how Yaakov leaves his parents, Yitzchak and Rivkah, to go to his uncle, Lavan, who lived in Charan.

Yaakov’s travelling to his uncle had a double purpose. 1) To flee from his brother Esau, who wanted to kill him after Yaakov received his father’s blessings, which were originally intended for Esau. 2) He goes to his uncle Lavan, with the intention to marry one of Lavan’s daughters.

However, on his way to Lavan, Yaakov stopped off to study at the Yeshiva (study halls) of Eiver (great grandson of Noah). He was there for 14 years, after which he continued his journey to Charan.

When he finally came to Charan, he met Lavan’s younger daughter, Rachel, at the well. He was taken by her beauty and piety. Yaakov promised Lavan that he would work for him seven years for his permission to marry his daughter Rachel. Lavan agreed. But, after working seven years, Lavan fooled him and gave him his older daughter, Leah, instead. 

Yaakov then promised to work another seven years for Rachel. Lavan agreed, but, whereas the first seven years he worked before his marriage, the second seven he worked for his father-in-law, only after marrying Rachel. Yaakov ended up working fourteen years for Lavan’s two daughters.

In addition, he also married Bilha and Zilpa, who were half sisters to Rachel and Leah. Thus, Yaakov had four wives from whom he had his twelve sons and his daughter, Dina. These twelve sons were the origin of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Eleven of Yaakov’s sons and Dina were born in Charan. His youngest son, Binyamin, was his only child born in Canaan (Israel). Binyamin was born when Yaakov was on his way back to his father’s home.

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

A.   Yaakov was 63 years old when he left his parents home.  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 and Rachel?

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

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

A.  Twenty years. Fourteen years he worked for the privilege of marrying Leah and Rachel. He worked another six years, during which time G-d blessed Yaakov with great wealth. He was 97 when he left Lavan and returned to his parents, Yitzchak and Rivkah.  

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL DAY