* PARSHA Q&A * In-Depth Questions on the Parsha and Rashi's commentary. Parshas Vayeitzei For the week ending 12 Kislev 5757 22 & 23 November 1996 =========================================================================== All Ohr Somayach Publications are now available in Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Word formats from our web site: http://www.ohr.org.il =========================================================================== Parsha Questions 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: 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 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 ANSWER: 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 =========================================================================== Do you link to us? 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