 Torah Thoughts
This week we read the Torah portion
"VaYeitzei" (Genesis
28:10-32:3).
It contains 148 verses and no commandments.
Overview
At the urging of his parents, Jacob left Beersheba for Haran,
his mother's home town. On the way, in a place that according to our
tradition is the site of the binding of Isaac and the future site of the Temple, Jacob slept and
beheld a vision.
Atop a ladder with angelic beings ascending and
descending, Jacob perceived G-d. G-d reiterated the promises given to Abraham
and Isaac. The Land would be given to Jacob and his descendants.
Jacob was promised that HaShem would be with him
wherever he sojourned and that He would bring him back to his homeland.
The following morning, Jacob recognized the sanctity of
the place where he had slept. He made a vow that if HaShem
provided him with the basic necessities and returned him home, a house of G-d
would arise in that place and that he would tithe all that he
possessed.
In the next scene, Jacob arrives at the outskirts of Haran and meets Rachel,
his cousin and destined wife, at the well. Eventually he meets Laban, his devious uncle. Laban
offers him employment. Jacob accepts and declares his beloved Rachel to be
his wage for seven years of labor. Laban agrees and
tricks Jacob by exchanging Leah for her younger sister Rachel on the wedding
night. In the morning, Jacob discovered the deceit. When he confronted Laban, he was told that the custom was not to marry off
the younger daughter before the older, and that he would have to work another
seven years for Rachel.
The following section deals with the tribulations
of Jacob's married life, the birth of eleven of his sons and his
overcoming the guile of his father-in-law and his success in all his
endeavors.
After the birth of Joseph, Jacob realized that the time
had come to leave the environs of Laban's influence
and to return to his homeland. With the consent of his wives, the family
departed in secrecy while Laban was away. Word of
Jacob's flight reached Laban who followed in hot
pursuit. G-d came to Laban in a dream and warned
him not to harm Jacob.
Laban overtook the escapees
and confronted Jacob. Eventually they made a treaty and each promised not to
cross over into the other's territory, after which they parted ways.
As Jacob approached the Land, he once more perceived
encampments of angels, escorting him on his return to the Promised Land.
HAFTARA
Hosea 12:13-14:10. The Haftara (excerpt from the Prophets) opens with mention of
Jacob’s flight from Laban (the link to this week’s
Torah reading.) It continues to describe G-d’s
beneficent protection of the Jewish People when they left Egypt and wandered in the desert.
Ephraim, a reference to the sinful Kingdom of Israel
(the Northern Ten Tribes of Israel), is rebuked for abandoning G-d when they
prospered. As a result, their cities will become desolate and they will be
helpless in the face of marauding enemies. In the end there will be renewal
of the relationship with G-d as Ephraim experiences a spiritual epiphany.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Baruch Price
Technical
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