Genesis 28:10–32:3
Parshat Vayetzei
Jacob leaves Be'er Sheva for Charan and, sleeping on the way, dreams of a ladder reaching heaven with angels going up and down. In Laban's house he works seven years for Rachel and is given Leah, then works seven more; eleven sons and a daughter are born to him. After twenty years he leaves with his family and flocks, and Laban overtakes him and they make a pact.
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Parsha Vayeitzei – Numerical Superiority In this week’s parsha, Jacob flees from his brother Esau’s wrath. On his way, he falls asleep and has an unusual dream in which he… Parsha Vayeitzei – A Thousand-Fold Blessing The purpose G-d had intended for all the nations of the world is to bring perfection to the natural order of the world. By virtue of their observance of the Seven Noahide commandments that are geared to preserve the civility of the world, they ensure that the world is a perfectly natural one. The Je Parsha Vayeitzei – Charan or Rina: Anger or Joy? There are two ways a person can go through life’s difficulties. One can be to see in all of the hardships G-d’s wrath— charan. And there are those who make an effort, or are naturally inclined, to see the positive in everything. They see rina/joy as opposed to charan/wrath. Parsha Vayeitzei – Dream but Don’t Sleep A dream is the bridge between reality and fantasy. A prophetic dream is the bridge between an other-worldly experience and our human mind. To make the prophecy accessible to the world of human reality, it comes through the medium of a dream. When we sleep our souls withdraw from our physical existen Parsha Vayeitzei – From B’er Sheva to Charan Charan was a place that aroused anger; where the wily and devious Laban lived and idolatry was rampant. There was no respect for G-d or for others. No wonder our Sages state that Charan was a place where G-d’s wrath was aroused. And yet it was in Charan that Jacob married Rachel and Leah; and it was Parsha Vayeitzei – Going Up or Down? One can thrive amidst adversity in golus, yet that same person will fervently ask G-d repeatedly in his prayers to bring Moshiach. We must make sure that we never make peace with the golus and work incessantly and tirelessly to bring it to an end. As a people and as individuals we have become so acc Parsha Vayeitzei – Holy or Lowly? Jacob states that “whoever stole the idols will not live.” This was not intended as a curse. Jacob was merely stating a fact that a Jew cannot possibly survive with the worshipping of Laban’s gods. Parsha Vayeitzei – Don’t Runt From, Run to Before Jacob fled to Charan he stopped in the Academy of Shem and Ever to study Torah for fourteen years. This “short” diversion was intended to reorient Jacob towards a positive focus on his journey rather than just escaping his brother Esau’s anger. Jacob was totally focused on the positive nature Parsha Vayeitzei – Joy and More Joy Rabbi Nochum of Chernobyl, the famous Chassidic Master, remarked: “Rachel and Leah both desired the same thing—Jacob. However, what Leah received through crying Rachel achieved with joy.” Parsha Vayeitzei – Lo and Behold A Jew cannot bear to see the suffering of others and will speak out. When he or she sees injustice or lack of care for one of G-d’s creatures, the Jew cannot remain silent. A Jew cannot sit idle, period. Every moment counts, and every second of life was given to us as a resource intended for us to d Parsha Vayeitzei – Name Your Price! For Jacob marriage was a Mitzvah par excellence. His love and passion for Rachel was not simply of a romantic nature. Rather it was motivated by his passion to be the one to forge another link in the chain that started with Abraham and Isaac, and would end with the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai Parsha Vayeitzei – Nineteen: The Incorruptible Core The Talmud states Jacob never died. Jacob represents immortality more than any other righteous person because he had the exclusive responsibility of establishing the Jewish nation. He had to insure that the Jewish nation would acquire the power of immortality, so as their progenitor he too had to po Parsha Vayeitzei – Priorities There are times when we may be tempted to undertake projects that are new and exciting, at the expense of older and less glamorous, but, more important, responsibilities. This attitude is rooted in selfishness, looking for projects that will satisfy our egos, rather than fulfilling that which is imp Parsha Vayeitzei – Remove the Rock When G-d gives us a mission He also gives us the energy and wherewithal to fulfill it. Parsha Vayeitzei – Removing the Rocks In every generation, G-d has blessed the Jewish people with great spiritual mentors, whose lives are dedicated to the well-being of their flock. Their primary method of nurturing the Jewish people is by serving as the fountainhead of Torah knowledge and inspiration. Parsha Vayeitzei – Seeing and Hearing There are two ways that we deal with each other’s needs. There are times that we see another person’s plight; a simple recognition that something is wrong. We must take this to the next step, by listening to his or her story. What might seem to be just petty details or minutiae are not to the person Parsha Vayeitzei – Running from or Running to Our Sages state that a guest must listen to everything the host tells him except if he tells him to leave. The Rebbe would apply this to our going into exile. We must listen to everything we are told by G-d but we cannot be compelled to leave His presence. If we are forced out of the Holy Land we le Parsha Vayeitzei – Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is first and foremost a Jewish concept. Moreover, it is a fundamental aspect of Jewish tradition and theology. Our day begins with Modeh Ani — I give thanks, in which we express gratitude for having been given back our souls in the morning. Gratitude has been engrained in us from the be Parsha Vayeitzei – The Guarantee Jacob had no doubt that G-d would keep His promise to bless him with all the material goods. Jacob was doubtful about his own response and reaction to G-d’s bountiful blessings. Jacob feared that the more G-d would bless him, the more self-centered he might become. He was concerned that the material Parsha Vayeitzei – The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself Everything around us compels us to realize that we have “bumped into the place,” that we are living in unprecedented times and are poised to enter into a very special era of closeness to G-d. We can see how we have been “thrust” into this new “location” and time. What should our response be? We shou Parsha Vayeitzei – The Prayer to Be a Mother and the Mother of Prayer! There is one need and request that stands out among all the others. When it comes to a person asking for a child one does not need a formalized, structured prayer. The desire for a child for a childless couple; or the desire for nachas (fulfillment, satisfaction in English, but basically untranslata Parsha Vayeitzei – The Three Musketeers Charan is thus identified with the angry and hostile world that Jacob entered into. It was in Charan that Jacob had to struggle with his uncle Laban, and was ultimately victorious. This experience imbued Jacob’s future descendants with the strength to confront adverse and trying situations and overc Parsha Vayeitzei – Unconventional Prayers for Unconventional Results Rachel’s child was no ordinary child even in comparison to the other sons of Jacob. Her first son, Joseph, would carry the legacy of the Patriarchs to future generations. Whatever spiritual energy and light Jacob and his forebears had introduced into the world depended on Joseph to transmit it. It r