When you Choose Shabbat, you choose to learn that every Shabbat is different and special. This week I learned that Parashat (וַיֵּצֵא) – Vayetze Vayeitzei, Vayetzei or Vayeitze – is the seventh weekly Torah portion in the annual cycle of Torah readings. According to Wikipedia, Vayetze (Genesis 28:10 through 32:3) is made up of 7,512 Hebrew letters, 2021 words, 148 verses and 235 lines of the Torah Scroll.
The parashah tells of many things; Jacob’s travels to, life in and return from Harran; Jacob’s dream of a ladder to heaven; Jacob’s meeting of Rachel at the well; Jacob’s time working for Laban and living with Rachel and Leah; the birth of Jacob’s children and the departure of Jacob’s family from Laban.
Rabbi Michael D Klein of Temple Torat Emet offers his insights on this week’s Torah reading, Vayetze for Shabbat December 7, 2024 aka the 6 Kislev, 5785:
“In the story of Yakov, and his father in law Lavan, there are two lessons often overlooked. The first, and most obvious, is the industriousness of Yakov who enters Lavan’s house with nothing and leaves with a massive fortune despite Lavan’s attempts to trick him and steal from him. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak points to Yakov’s success as G-d’s guidance but he also uses the Hebrew word “Zerizut” which describes someone who is constantly productive such as ants or bees in nature. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak states that even though the ant is a small creature he overcomes his disadvantage in size by being ever busy and task oriented.
The second, even more subtle lesson, is learned from the story of sisters Rachel and Leah. Yakov is quite aware that Laban might try to trick him by giving him Leah as his first wife. He devises a code which he shares only with Rachel but Rachel, not wanting to see her older sister embarrassed, shares the code with her, thus allowing her to marry Yakov first.
This amazing example of consideration is a shining example of kindness toward one’s sibling. Very often, we hear stories of sibling rivalry or, when parents are elderly or ill, that one sibling is unfairly burdened while other siblings do little to assist. This often leads to resentment and jealousy especially when the parent passes away. Rachel’s example of kindness, not only to Leah, but also to the handmaids Bilha and Zilpa are a shining example of sisterly kindness that all sisters and siblings should follow.”
Questions to Ponder:
1. Why is the description of angels in Jacob’s ladder in his dream so unusual?
2. According to the sages, what does each rung of the ladder represent?
3. How do we know from the text that Jacob still believes in Hashem despite being surrounded by idolaters?
4. How do the Teraphim which Rachel takes from Lavan’s house represent Yetzer Hara (evil inclination)? How does Rachel degrade them?
Rabbi Michael D. Klein attended Yeshiva College of South Florida and served as Torah Reader, Hebrew teacher, Chazzan and spiritual leader of various synagogues throughout South Florida. In January 2015 he became Ritual Director, Bnai/Bnot Mitzvah instructor and 7th grade Hebrew instructor for Temple Torat Emet of Boynton Beach. In October 2019 he was accepted into an accelerated track and received his smicha from Yeshiva Adath Wolkowisk and has been the Rabbinic leadership of Temple Torat Emet since August 2020. In September of 2022 he was appointed Rabbinic and Spiritual Advisor of the Florida Region of FJMC.
Choose Shabbat; choose to celebrate, to light candles, sing songs and learn a little Torah.
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