Vayeitzei – Peninim on the Torah

Complete this week and this one also will be given to you for the work which you will do for me for another seven years. And Yaakov did so. (29:27-28)

We may be puzzled by Yaakov’s passive acquiescence to Lavan’s proposal. Surely, Lavan had no legal or moral claim for Yaakov to work another seven years to receive Rachel as a bride, which their original contract had stipulated. After seven years, Lavan acted reprehensibly towards Yaakov by putting Leah under the chupah in place of Rachel. Yaakov clearly owed Lavan nothing, since he had explicitly stated his desire to marry Rachel. Why did Yaakov accede to Lavan’s manipulation without objection? Horav Dovid Feinstein, Shlita, suggests that Yaakov’s actions were motivated by his sensitivity to Leah’s feelings. He knew that Leah’s…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5753

“And he saw a well in a field… and a great stone was on the mouth (top) of the well… and he rolled the stone from the top of the well.” (29:2-10)

The Torah emphasizes Yaakov’s superhuman physical strength by relating that he was able to roll the stone off the top of the well. Rashi elaborates on this theme by stating that the Torah notes Yaakov’s physical strength. It seems peculiar that the Torah would find it necessary to stress such a mundane trait. Is Yaakov a secular hero that his physical strength must be exalted? Is one’s personality and character to be measured by his physical prowess? Siach Mordechai answers that obviously, characterizing someone according to his physical ability is both inaccurate and inappropriate. The importance of one’s physical ability…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5753

“And (Yaakov) raised his voice and cried” (29:11)

After a long journey, Yaakov Avinu finally arrived in Padan Aram and encountered his future wife, Rachel. One would expect Yaakov to have expressed profound joy at the momentous occasion of this first meeting. Instead of rejoicing, however, Yaakov cried. Rashi explains that Yaakov cried because he was grieved that he came to Rachel empty-handed. In contrast, his father, Yitzchak, had been sent with jewelry to meet his future wife, Rivkah. Yaakov’s sudden poverty is attributed to an unusual altercation between Yaakov and Elifaz, Eisav’s son. When Yaakov ran from his parents’ home, he narrowly escaped the venomous wrath of…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeitzei, 5753

“And he took from the stones of the place and placed them at his head, and he lay down to sleep there” (28:11)

Rashi cites the Talmud in Chullin 91a which states that the twelve stones began arguing with each other, each urging Yaakov to rest his head upon it. Hashem immediately merged them all into one large stone. The Gerer Rebbe (R.’A.M.), z.l., questions this consolidation. Yaakov could rest his head upon only one area of the stone. He insightfully suggests that when the stones merged, they blended into one stone with such harmony that they were no longer distinguishable from one another. Every aspect of the consolidated stone was a fusion of all the stones together. This is the essence of…

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Complete this week and this one also will be given to you for the work which you will do for me for another seven years. And Yaakov did so. (29:27-28)

“And he saw a well in a field… and a great stone was on the mouth (top) of the well… and he rolled the stone from the top of the well.” (29:2-10)

“And (Yaakov) raised his voice and cried” (29:11)

“And he took from the stones of the place and placed them at his head, and he lay down to sleep there” (28:11)

YEARS

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