Parsha Q&A - Vayetzei

Parshas Vayetzei

For the week ending 9 Kislev 5756; 1 & 2 December 1995

Contents:

Parsha Questions

Bonus Question

I Did Not Know That!

Parsha Questions

Answers | Contents

When Yaakov traveled to Charan, the Torah stresses that he departed from Beer Sheva. Why?
Who instituted the Maariv (evening) prayer?
In his dream, Yaakov saw angels ascending and descending. What were the missions of these angels?
Why did Hashem promise Yaakov, "I am with you" (28:15)?
When was the first time that Hashem spoke to Yaakov?
What is "the gate of heaven" (28:17)?
Why did Yaakov rebuke the shepherds?
Why did Yaakov cry when he met Rachel?
Why did Yaakov come empty handed to Lavan's house?
Why did Lavan run to greet Yaakov?
What kind of work did Yaakov do for Lavan?
Why were Leah's eyes tender?
How old was Yaakov when he married Leah and Rachel?
Why did Rachel envy Leah?
"Hashem remembered Rachel"(30:22). What did He remember?
During the fourteen years that Yaakov worked for Lavan who provided for the needs of Yaakov's family?
Why did Rachel steal Lavan's terafim?
Who was the father of Bilhah and Zilpah?
What treaty did Lavan make with Yaakov?
Who escorted Yaakov into Eretz Yisrael?

Answer Contents	Hashem promised Yaakov in a prophetic dream, "*I am with you and I will guard you" (28:15). When Yaakov woke up, he vowed, "If Hashem will be with me and guard me... I will surely give a tenth*" (28:20-23). Why was Yaakov unsure that Hashem would fulfill His promise?

I Did Not Know That!

"And (Leah) said this time I will give thanks to Hashem and she called his name Yehuda" (29:35).
Leah was the first person in the history of the world to give thanks to Hashem.
Berachos 7b

Answers to this Week's Questions

Questions | Contents

All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated

28:10 - The departure of a righteous person from a place leaves a noticeable void in that place.
28:11 - Yaakov.
28:12 - The ascending angels accompanied Yaakov while he was in Eretz Canaan and were not permitted to leave the Land. The descending angels accompanied Yaakov outside the Land.
28:15 - To reassure Yaakov, since he was afraid of Esav and Lavan.
28:15 - During his prophetic dream.
28 :17 - The place via which our prayers ascend to Heaven.
29:7 - When he saw them lying down he thought they wished to take their animals home. He rebuked them because it wasn't time to bring in the flocks.
29:11 - He perceived prophetically that they would not be buried together.
29:11 - Because Eliphaz, the son of Esav, pursued him and took all his possessions.
29:13 - He thought that Yaakov was carrying money.
29:14 - Yaakov tended his sheep.
29:17 - She cried continually because she thought she was destined to marry Esav.
29:21 - Eighty-four.
30:1 - She envied her mitzvos, thinking they were the reason Leah merited having children.
30:22 - That Rachel gave Leah the "signs of recognition" that Yaakov had taught her, so that she wouldn't be embarrassed.
30:30 - Yaakov's sons.
31:19 - To wean her father from idol worship.
31:50 - Lavan.
31:52 - That Lavan the Arami (Syrian) and Yaakov would not go to war against each other.
32:1 - The angels of Eretz Yisrael.

Question Contents	Yaakov wasn't sure if his vision was truly a prophecy or merely a dream. Therefore, he made his vow that if his dream really was a prophecy he would pledge a tenth of his belongings to Hashem. Sifsei Chachamim

Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Production Design: Lev Seltzer
HTML Design: Michael Treblow

© 1995 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved. This publication may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue newsletters. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission, and then send us a sample issue.

This publication is available via E-Mail

Ohr Somayach Institutions is an international network of Yeshivot and outreach centers, with branches in North America, Europe, South Africa and South America. The Central Campus in Jerusalem provides a full range of educational services for over 685 full-time students. The Jewish Learning Exchange (JLE) of Ohr Somayach offers summer and winter programs in Israel that attract hundreds of university students from around the world for 3 to 8 weeks of study and touring.

Parshas Vayetzei

Parsha Questions

I Did Not Know That!

Recommended Reading List

Answers to this Week's Questions