Category Archives: Uncategorized

Yaakov Prepares to Meet Esav Yaakov sent angels to travel ahead of him to Esav in the land of Seir which was in the field of Edom. He commanded the angels to tell Esav that Yaakov had been sojourning with Lavan yet he was not promoted to any higher office there, but rather remained aContinue reading “Vayishlach, 1st Aliya”

Yaakov and Lavan’s Covenant Lavan said: “These are my daughters and my sons and my animals. Would I really bring harm to my daughters?” Jacob set up stones to serve as a monument between them. Lavan called the area Yegar Sahadutha. Jacob called it Galed. And then Lavan called it Galed as well as itContinue reading “VaYeitzei, 7th Aliya”

Lavan Pursues Yaakov Jacob lifted his sons and then his wives onto camels. There were 2 reasons why he lifted his sons before his wives: 1)This was in contrast with Esav who put his wives before his sons, as his priority was his wives and his children secondary. Jacob, being more of a visionary, wasContinue reading “VaYeitzei, 6th Aliya”

Yaakov’s Payment Lavan asked Yaakov to specify how much Lavan owed him and he would pay him. Yaakov replied that when he first started working for him, Lavan only had a small amount of livestock which now has grown tremendously, showing how G-d had blessed him upon Yaakov’s arrival. So now, when can Yaakov tooContinue reading “Vayeitzei, 5th Aliya”

More Births During the time of wheat harvest*, Reuven went out and found some jasmine (“dudaim” in the text) and brought it to his mother Leah. *Side note: Rashi comments that in telling us that it was the time of the wheat harvest, this is to show the praiseworthiness of the tribal leaders, that ratherContinue reading “Vayeitzei, 4th Aliya”

Yaakov’s Four Wives Yaakov loved Rachel and told her father Lavan that he would work for him for seven years to have Rachel, his youngest daughter. Rashi comments that Yaakov specified “Rachel”, “his daughter” and “his youngest daughter” so that Lavan would not try to trick him by saying that he meant another Rachel orContinue reading “Vayeitzei, 3rd Aliya”

Yaakov Meets Rachel Right after Yaakov received assurance from G-d that he would be protected, he became light on his feet in joy and traveled to the land of the people of the East. On his way, he came across a well in a field that was covered with a huge rock. Next to theContinue reading “Vayeitzei, 2nd Aliya”

Yaakov and the Ladder Yitzchak did not approve of the daughters of Canaan, so Esav went to Ishmael. Yaakov however, left Be’er Sheva to go to Charan. Rashi points out that scripture makes note of Yaakov leaving Be’er Sheva (and not only where he traveled to) to indicate that when a righteous person resides withinContinue reading “Vayeitzei, 1st Aliya”

Yitzchak Leaves and Esav Gets Married Again So Yitzchak sent Yaakov away to Lavan, Rivka’s brother, in Padan Aram. When Esav noticed that Yitzchak had blessed Yaakov and told him not to marry a Canaanite woman and that he had sent him away to find a wife in Padan Aram and that Yaakov did so,Continue reading “Toldos, 7th Aliya”

Yaakov’s Blessings Yitzchak gave the following blessing to Yaakov: That G-d will give and give to him repeatedly, the “dew of the heavens”, “the fatness of the earth” and an abundance of grain and wine. Nevertheless, G-d will treat him with justice – only giving these things to him if he is deserving but notContinue reading “Toldos, 6th Aliyah”