Parsha Q&A - Vayetzei

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Parsha Q&A

Parshas Vayetzei

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

Contents:
  • Parsha Questions
  • Bonus Question
  • I Did Not Know That!
  • Recommended Reading List
  • Answers to Parsha Questions
  • Answer to Bonus Question
  • Subscription Information
  • Ohr Somayach Home Page

    • Parsha Questions

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

    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 from a place leaves a noticeable void in that place.
    2. 28:11 - Yaakov.
    3. 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.
    4. 28:15 - To reassure Yaakov, since he was afraid of Esav and Lavan.
    5. 28:15 - During his prophetic dream.
    6. 28 :17 - The place via which our prayers ascend to Heaven.
    7. 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.
    8. 29:11 - He perceived prophetically that they would not be buried together.
    9. 29:11 - Because Eliphaz, the son of Esav, pursued him and took all his possessions.
    10. 29:13 - He thought that Yaakov was carrying money.
    11. 29:14 - Yaakov tended his sheep.
    12. 29:17 - She cried continually because she thought she was destined to marry Esav.
    13. 29:21 - Eighty-four.
    14. 30:1 - She envied her mitzvos, thinking they were the reason Leah merited having children.
    15. 30:22 - That Rachel gave Leah the "signs of recognition" that Yaakov had taught her, so that she wouldn't be embarrassed.
    16. 30:30 - Yaakov's sons.
    17. 31:19 - To wean her father from idol worship.
    18. 31:50 - Lavan.
    19. 31:52 - That Lavan the Arami (Syrian) and Yaakov would not go to war against each other.
    20. 32:1 - The angels of Eretz Yisrael.
    Bonus Question
    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
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