Parsha Summary
This week’s portion, Vayeitzei, opens as Jacob flees his brother Esau (who is angry at him for “stealing” the blessings) to Charan, to stay with his uncle, Lavan. On the way he spends a night at the holiest place on earth: the Temple Mount. There, he dreams of a ladder standing on the earth and reaching up to heaven, with angels ascending and descending. G-d stands over him and says that He will protect Jacob. He will return to the land of Israel and his children will multiply as the sand of the earth.
After arriving in Charan, Jacob meets Lavan’s daughter, Rachel, and asks Lavan for her hand in marriage. Lavan sets a price: seven years of hard work shepherding his flock. When the wedding day finally arrives, Lavan tricks Jacob by replacing Rachel with Leah (her older sister) – he accomplishes this subterfuge by darkening the room and covering her with a veil. When Jacob complains to Lavan the next day, Lavan tells him that he can marry Rachel too, but he has to work another seven years.
Over the years, Leah bears many children while Rachel remains childless. Finally, Rachel has a son and names him Joseph. Lavan continuously schemes to trick Jacob out of his pay. His efforts backfire and Jacob becomes wealthy at Lavan’s expense.
After twenty years at Lavan’s house, Jacob and his family quietly pack their bags and begin to travel back to Israel. Lavan catches up with them and demands to know why they left without telling him. Jacob responds by stating his grievance: he served Lavan so well for twenty years and was mistreated every step of the way. The two eventually agree to sign a peace treaty and each one travels his separate way. Jacob continues home and meets angels as he enters Israel.
Feeling Blessed
“Rabbi, I have good news to tell you. My wife gave birth to our fifth child, a baby girl.”
“Mazel Tov,” responded the Rabbi! “Thank you for sharing the good news with me.”
“Everybody is OK, Rabbi,” continued the proud father. “And after davening this Shabbos, I’m making a Kiddush’l (small Kiddush).”
The Rabbi’s face grew serious. “Let’s assume this would be your first child after ten years of marriage. Would you just dismiss it with a Kiddush’l, or would you make a nice regular Kiddush? Why, just because you already have children, does this celebration mean less to you?”
The Rabbi made a powerful point. Too often people overlook all that they have in life and neglect to properly appreciate their good fortune. When people view each blessing they receive as a singular event, their lives are imbued with greater meaning.
The births of most of the Twelve Tribes are recorded in this week’s Torah portion. The Matriarchs gave each child a name that signified their appreciation to G-d. Leah called her firstborn Reuven, for G-d had seen her pain; next came Shimon, for G-d had listened to her entreaties. Leah had six children in all, and each one’s name conveyed a specific sense of appreciation for why the child was special in her eyes. Rachel acted accordingly. After not having children for so many years, she named her first child Yosef, acknowledging that G-d had removed her shame (in not having children) and expressing her wish that she be blessed with another child.
Through the naming of their children, the Twelve Tribes who formed the Jewish nation, the Matriarchs taught us an essential lesson: Always appreciate what you have. This is one of the fundamental principles of our nation. We must always thank G-d for everything that He bestows upon us.
A friend of mine confided to me that while he felt fulfilled in his job, he really wished to take the next step higher and advance in his career. However, nothing was forthcoming at that point, which frustrated him at times. He then said that “I look at other friends of mine who wish they could have what I have now, and then I see how lucky I am with where I am today.” That helped him put his success in perspective.
Life is a mixed bag: some aspects work out great, while we hope for more in other areas. This week’s portion teaches us the importance of recognizing everything good we receive as a blessing from G-d. In this merit, may we always receive His blessings with a full and open hand.