Parshat Vayeitzei
PARSHA OVERVIEW
Fleeing from Esav, Yaakov leaves Be’er Sheva and sets out for Charan, the home of his mother's family. After a 14-year stint in the Torah Academy of Shem and Ever, he resumes his journey and comes to Mount Moriah, the place where his father Yitzchak was brought as an offering, and the future site of the Beit Hamikdash. He sleeps there and dreams of angels going up and down a ladder between Heaven and Earth. G-d promises him the Land of Israel, that he will found a great nation and that he will enjoy Divine protection. Yaakov wakes and vows to build an altar there and tithe all that he will receive.
Then he travels to Charan and meets his cousin Rachel at the well. He arranges with her father, Lavan, to work seven years for her hand in marriage, but Lavan fools Yaakov, substituting Rachel’s older sister, Leah. Yaakov commits himself to work another seven years in order to also marry Rachel. Leah bears four sons: Reuven, Shimon, Levi and
Yehuda, the first Tribes of Israel. Rachel is barren, and in an attempt to give Yaakov children, she gives her handmaiden Bilhah to Yaakov as a wife. Bilhah bears Dan and Naftali. Leah also gives Yaakov her handmaiden Zilpah, who bears Gad and Asher. Leah then bears Yissaschar, Zevulun, and a daughter, Dina. Hashem finally blesses Rachel with a son, Yosef.
Yaakov decides to leave Lavan, but Lavan, aware of the wealth Yaakov has made for him, is reluctant to let him go, and concludes a contract of employment with him. Lavan tries to swindle Yaakov, but Yaakov becomes extremely wealthy. Six years later, Yaakov, aware that Lavan has become dangerously resentful of his wealth, flees with his family. Lavan pursues them but is warned by G-d not to harm them. Yaakov and Lavan agree to a covenant and Lavan returns home. Yaakov continues on his way to face his brother Esav.
PARSHA INSIGHTS
Opulence and Optimism
“If Hashem … will give me bread to eat and clothes to wear …” (28:20)
Nothing is sadder than someone who has the wherewithal without the “all.”
Nothing is sadder than having the means without the end.
A person can have tremendous wealth and opulence, can have a live-in Sushi chef, but if he has Crohn’s disease, instead of being a blessing, his wealth and wherewithal are a constant reminder of his infirmity.
Someone can have the last word in tailoring: a suit by number one Italian tailor, Antonio Liverano, and shoes by Crockett & Jones, but if he’s in the middle of a vicious legal battle and all his days are spent going to court, then his clothes will just remind him of where he has to go today.
“If Hashem … will give me bread to eat and clothes to wear …”
Ostensibly, there is no other reason to have bread than to eat it and no other reason to have clothes than to wear them. So, why does the verse spell out ‘bread to eat’ and ‘clothes to wear’?
Yaakov Avinu was asking Hashem not just for the wherewithal, not just food but also for the health to enjoy it. And not just clothing but the peace of mind to dress in the morning with optimism.
