Parsha Q&A - Vayeitzei

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Parsha Q&A

Parshas Vayeitzei

For the week ending 12 Kislev 5757; 22 & 23 Novenber 1996
Contents:
  • Parsha Questions
  • Bonus Question
  • I Did Not Know That!
  • Recommended Reading List
  • Answers to Parsha Questions
  • Answer to Bonus Question
  • Back issues of Parsha Q&A
  • Subscription Information
  • Ohr Somayach Home Page

    • This publication is also available in the following formats: [Text] [Word] [PDF] Explanation of these symbols

    Parsha Questions

    Answers | Contents
    1. When Yaakov traveled to Charan, the Torah stresses that he departed from Be'er Sheva. Why?
    2. On the night of his dream, Yaakov did something he hadn't done in 14 years. What?
    3. In his dream, Yaakov saw angels going up and down. What were the missions of these angels?
    4. Why did Hashem promise Yaakov "I am with you" (28:15)?
    5. What is "the gate of Heaven" (28:17)?
    6. Why did Yaakov rebuke the shepherds?
    7. Why did Yaakov cry when he met Rachel?
    8. Why did Yaakov come empty-handed to Lavan's house?
    9. Why did Lavan run to greet Yaakov?
    10. Why were Leah's eyes tender?
    11. How old was Yaakov when he married Leah and Rachel?
    12. Why did Rachel envy Leah?
    13. Who was Yaakov's fifth son?
    14. "Hashem remembered Rachel" (30:22). What did He remember?
    15. What does 'Yosef' mean? Why was he named that?
    16. Before Yaakov arrived, Rachel tended Lavan's sheep. Why didn't Lavan's sons tend his sheep?
    17. Why did Rachel steal Lavan's terafim?
    18. Where are there two Aramaic words in this week's Parsha?
    19. Who was Bilhah's father? Who was Zilpah's father?
    20. Who escorted Yaakov into Eretz Yisrael?
    Bonus Question
    Answer
    Contents    		When Yaakov left Charan he was 63, and had learned Torah all his life; first from Avraham and later from Yitzchak. Why then - despite his father's directive to find a wife - did he suddenly need to delay 14 years in the Yeshiva of Shem and Ever?

    I Did Not Know That!

    "It was the next morning, and behold! She was Leah!" (29:25).

    The entire night, the wedding guests sang "Hilaiya! Hilaiya!" Not until morning did Yaakov realize that they had been hinting at her true identity: "Hee Leah" - "She is Leah!" (The Hebrew word 'hee' means 'she is.')

    Da'as Zekenim MiBaalei HaTosefos

    Recommended Reading List

    Ramban
    28:12
    Yaakov's Dream
    29:2
    Three Flocks
    30:2
    Yaakov's Anger
    31:19
    The Terafim
    Sforno
    28:12-13
    Yaakov's Dream
    29:6
    A Proper Guest
    29:11
    Why Yaakov Cried
    31:32
    Yaakov's Curse
    32:1
    A Father's Blessing

    Answers to this Week's Questions

    Questions | Contents

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

    1. 28:10 - The departure of a righteous person leaves a noticeable void in that place.
    2. 28:11 - Sleep at night lying down.
    3. 28:12 - The ascending angels accompanied Yaakov in Eretz Canaan. The descending angels accompanied Yaakov outside of the Land.
    4. 28:15 - To reassure Yaakov, since he was afraid of Eisav and Lavan.
    5. 28 :17 - The place via which our prayers ascend to Heaven.
    6. 29:7 - He thought they were loafing, stopping work early in the day.
    7. 29:11 - He saw prophetically that they would not be buried together.
    8. 29:11 - Eliphaz, Eisav's son, chased him and took all his possessions.
    9. 29:13 - He thought Yaakov was carrying money.
    10. 29:17 - She cried continually, because she thought she was destined to marry Eisav.
    11. 29:21 - Eighty-four.
    12. 30:1 - She envied her mitzvos, thinking they were the reason Leah merited having children.
    13. 30:5 Dan.
    14. 30:22 - That Rachel gave Leah the "signs of recognition" that Yaakov had taught her, so that she wouldn't be embarrassed.
    15. 30:24 - 'Yosef' means 'He will add.' Rachel prayed to Hashem for another son, in addition to Yosef.
    16. 30:29 - They weren't born yet.
    17. 31:19 - To wean her father from idol worship.
    18. 31:41 - Yagar Sahadusa, meaning 'wall of testimony.'
    19. 31:50 - Lavan.
    20. 32:1 - The angels of Eretz Yisrael.
    Bonus Question
    Question
    Contents    		Noach's son Shem survived the Flood. Before the Flood, he had lived amongst the most wicked of peoples, yet he remained righteous. Now that Yaakov was leaving the righteous influence of his father, Yitzchak, and going to live with the wicked Lavan and his like-minded countrymen, Yaakov needed Shem's teachings to show him how to remain righteous in evil surroundings.
    Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky
    Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
    General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
    Production Design: Lev Seltzer
    HTML Design: Michael Treblow
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