Parashat Vayetze is the seventh weekly Torah portion in the Book of Genesis (Bereishit) and spans Genesis 28:10 to 32:3. The name “Vayetze” is derived from the opening verse, which begins with the words “Vayetze Yaakov miBe’er Sheva” (And Jacob went out from Be’er Sheva). This portion primarily focuses on the life and experiences of Jacob, one of the patriarchs of the Jewish people.
The narrative begins with Jacob leaving his hometown of Be’er Sheva and embarking on a journey to Haran, the ancestral home of his mother Rebekah’s family. On his way, Jacob has a dream at a place he later names Bethel. In this dream, he sees a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending. God appears to Jacob and renews the covenant that He made with Abraham and Isaac, promising to give the land to Jacob’s descendants and bless all the families of the earth through them.
Upon reaching Haran, Jacob encounters his future wife, Rachel, at a well. Struck by her beauty, he agrees to work for her father, Laban, for seven years in exchange for her hand in marriage. However, Laban deceives Jacob by giving him Leah, Rachel’s older sister, as a wife. Jacob then agrees to work an additional seven years to marry Rachel. The narrative highlights the complexities and challenges within the family dynamic, foreshadowing future conflicts among Jacob’s descendants.
Parashat Vayetze also describes the births of Jacob’s twelve sons, who will later become the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel. The relationships between Jacob and his wives, Leah and Rachel, are explored, emphasizing the competition and jealousy between them.
As Jacob works for Laban, he becomes wealthy, acquiring a large flock of sheep and other livestock. However, Laban’s mistreatment of Jacob becomes apparent, and Jacob decides to return to his homeland. Before leaving, Jacob and Laban enter into a complex agreement involving the separation of their flocks and the use of certain colored sheep as wages. This agreement serves as a demonstration of Jacob’s resourcefulness and cunning.
Parashat Vayetze is rich with themes of family dynamics, love, deception, and the fulfillment of divine promises. It sets the stage for the continued development of Jacob’s character and the unfolding narrative of the patriarchs and matriarchs, laying the foundation for the formation of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Aspect | Description |
---|---|
Meaning | “The Life of Sarah” in Hebrew, reflecting the focus on Sarah’s life and legacy. |
Biblical Reference | Genesis 23:1 – 25:18 |
Key Characters | Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Eliezer (Abraham’s servant). |
Events | Sarah’s passing, Abraham’s purchase of the Cave of Machpelah, Eliezer’s journey to find a bride for Isaac, Isaac and Rebekah’s marriage. |
Significance | Focuses on family, inheritance, and the continuation of Abraham’s legacy through Isaac. |
Key Themes | Love, loss, faith, trust in divine guidance, familial bonds, and the importance of honoring ancestors. |
Notable Features | Eliezer’s prayer for guidance, Rebekah’s generosity at the well, Abraham’s negotiation for the burial place. |
Modern Relevance | Promotes valuing family, understanding the importance of tradition, and the significance of marital relationships. |
Historical Context | Offers insights into ancient customs related to marriage, dowry, and burial practices. |
Legacy | Highlights the enduring impact of Sarah’s life and the establishment of a family line that leads to the formation of the twelve tribes of Israel. |
ויצא
בראשית כ״ח:י׳-ל״ב:ג׳
Vayetze
Genesis 28:10-32:3
הושע
י״ב:י״ג-י״ד:י׳
Hosea
There Israel served for a wife,
For a wife he had to guard [sheep].
Brought Israel up from Egypt,
It was through a prophet;
Through a prophet they were guarded.
And his Lord cast his crimes upon him
And requited him for his mockery.
He was exalted in Israel;
But he incurred guilt through Baal,
And so he died.
They have made them molten images,
Idols, by their skill, from their silver,
Wholly the work of artisans.
Yet for these they appoint people to sacrifice;
They are wont to kiss calves!
They shall be like morning clouds,
Like dew so early gone;
Like chaff whirled away from the threshing floor.
And like smoke from a lattice.
Ever since the land of Egypt;
You have never known a [true] God but Me,
You have never had a helper other than Me.
In a thirsty land.
When they were sated, they grew haughty;
And so they forgot Me.
Like a leopard I lurk on the way;
And rip open the casing of their hearts;
I will devour them there like a lion,
The beasts of the field shall mangle them.
You had no help but Me.
Let him save you!
Where are the chieftains in all your towns
From whom you demanded:
“Give me a king and officers”?
And take them away in My wrath.
His sin is stored away.
And the babe is not wise—
For this is no time to survive
At the birthstool of babes.
Redeem them from very Death.
Where, O Death, are your plagues?
Your pestilence where, O Sheol?
Revenge shall be far from My thoughts.
A blast, a wind of GOD,
Shall come blowing up from the wilderness;
His fountain shall be parched,
His spring dried up.
That [wind] shall plunder treasures,
Every lovely object.
For she has defied her God.
They shall fall by the sword,
Their infants shall be dashed to death,
And their women with child ripped open.
For you have fallen because of your sin.
And return to GOD.
Say:
“Forgive all guilt
And accept what is good;
Instead of bulls we will pay
[The offering of] our lips.
No more will we ride on steeds;
Nor ever again will we call
Our handiwork our god,
Since in You alone orphans find pity!”
Generously will I take them back in love;
For My anger has turned away from them.
He shall blossom like the lily,
He shall strike root like a Lebanon tree.
His beauty shall be like the olive tree’s,
His fragrance like that of Lebanon.
They shall bring to life new grain,
They shall blossom like the vine;
His scent shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
“What more have I to do with idols?
When I respond and look to [God],
I become like a verdant cypress.”
Your fruit is provided by Me.
The prudent will take note of them.
For the paths of GOD are smooth;
The righteous can walk on them,
While sinners stumble on them.
Vayetze
more on Parashat Parashat Vayetze: Jacob’s Departure
Quick Guide: The Five Books of Moses
Genesis | Exodus | Leviticus | Numbers | Deuteronomy |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bereshit (1:1-6:8) |
Shemot (1:1-6:1) |
Vayikra (1:1-5:26) |
Bemidbar (1:1-4:20) |
Devarim (1:1-3:22) |
Noach (6:9-11:32) |
Va'era (6:2-9:35) |
Tzav (6:1-8:36) |
Naso (4:21-7:89) |
Va'etchanan (3:23-7:11) |
Lech Lecha (12:1-17:27) |
Bo (10:1-13:16) |
Shemini (9:1-11:47) |
Behaalotecha (8:1-12:16) |
Ekev (7:12-11:25) |
Vayera (18:1-22:24) |
Beshalach (13:17-17:16) |
Tazria (12:1-13:59) |
Shelach (13:1-15:41) |
Re'eh (11:26-16:17) |
Chaye Sarah (23:1-25:18) |
Yitro (18:1-20:23) |
Metzora (14:1-15:33) |
Korach (16:1-18:32) |
Shoftim (16:18-21:9) |
Toledot (25:19-28:9) |
Mishpatim (21:1-24:18) |
Achare Mot (16:1-18:30) |
Chukat (19:1-22:1) |
Ki Tetze (21:10-25:19) |
Vayetze (28:10-32:3) |
Teruma (25:1-27:19) |
Kedoshim (19:1-20:27) |
Balak (22:2-25:9) |
Ki Tavo (26:1-29:8) |
Vayishlach (32:4-36:43) |
Tetzave (27:20-30:10) |
Emor (21:1-24:23) |
Pinchas (25:10-30:1) |
Nitzavim (29:9-30:20) |
Vayeshev (37:1-40:23) |
Ki Tisa (30:11-34:35) |
Behar (25:1-26:2) |
Matot (30:2-32:42) |
Vayelech (31:1-30) |
Miketz (41:1-44:17) | Vayakhel (35:1-38:20) |
Bechukotai (26:3-27:34) |
Masei (33:1-36:13) |
Haazinu (32:1-52) |
Vayigash (44:18-47:27) |
Pekude (38:21-40:38) |
V'Zot HaBeracha (33:1-34:12) |
||
Vayechi (47:28-50:26) |