Vayetze - Day #4

Vayetze וַיֵּצֵא - And He Went Out

Torah Portion: Genesis 28:10-32:3

  

Genesis 30:14–27

30:14 Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother, Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”

15 Leah said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes, also?”

Rachel said, “Therefore, he will lie with you tonight for your son’s mandrakes.”

16 Jacob came from the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, “You must come in to me; for I have surely hired you with my son’s mandrakes.”

He lay with her that night. 17 Elohim listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. 18 Leah said, “Elohim has given me my hire, because I gave my servant to my husband.” She named him Issachar. 19 Leah conceived again and bore a sixth son to Jacob. 20 Leah said, “Elohim has endowed me with a good dowry. Now my husband will live with me, because I have borne him six sons.” She named him Zebulun. 21 Afterwards, she bore a daughter and named her Dinah.

22 Elohim remembered Rachel, and Elohim listened to her, and opened her womb. 23 She conceived, bore a son, and said, “Elohim has taken away my reproach.” 24 She named him Joseph, saying, “May Hashem add another son to me.”

25 When Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place, and to my country. 26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know my service with which I have served you.”

27 Laban said to him, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, stay here, for I have divined that Hashem has blessed me for your sake.”

Today’s Meditation: 

The mandrake is a plant with supposedly fertility powers. Did Rachel know this, and is this why she demanded that Leah give some to her? Rachel wanted to conceive so severely that she traded the mandrake in place of Leah having sex with Jacob. Ironic. Rachel wants children so badly, but during this agreement, Leah becomes pregnant. 

Would you trade something of value to get what you wanted? To what extent would you go? Would you give up your child’s college money to buy an expensive sports car? Or has someone done something to hurt you in a trade for something else? Many children are abused so that their mothers can be in a relationship. Perhaps we should reflect on Rachel's actions and pray to Hashem that if we ever are in a similar situation that we listen to Him to determine what to do.

Challenge: 

My challenge to you today is to think about something you desire in life. An object, a person, money, or whatever. Would you be willing to trade something of real value to get what you want? Or would you be willing to go to Hashem in prayer and worship and ask Him? Search your heart on this and be honest.

Vayetze - Day #3

Vayetze וַיֵּצֵא - And He Went Out  

Torah Portion: Genesis 28:10-32:3

Genesis 29:18–30:13

29:18 Jacob loved Rachel. He said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”

19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.”

20 Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.

21 Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”

22 Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. 23 In the evening, he took Leah, his daughter, and brought her to Jacob. He went into her. 24 Laban gave Zilpah his servant to his daughter Leah for a servant. 25 In the morning, behold, it was Leah! He said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Didn’t I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?”

26 Laban said, “It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me for seven more years.”

28 Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel, his daughter, as wife. 29 Laban gave Bilhah, his servant, to his daughter Rachel to be her servant. 30 He went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him seven more years.

31 Hashem saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 Leah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, “Because Hashem has looked at my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” 33 She conceived again, and bore a son, and said, “Because Hashem has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this son also.” She named him Simeon. 34 She conceived again and bore a son. She said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore, his name was called Levi. 35 She conceived again and bore a son. She said, “This time I will praise Hashem.” Therefore, she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.

30 When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I will die.”

2 Jacob’s anger burned against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in Elohim’s place, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”

3 She said, “Behold, my maid Bilhah. Go in to her, that she may bear on my knees, and I also may obtain children by her.” 4 She gave him Bilhah her servant as wife, and Jacob went in to her. 5 Bilhah conceived, and bore Jacob a son. 6 Rachel said, “Elohim has judged me, and has also heard my voice, and has given me a son.” Therefore, she called his name Dan. 7 Bilhah, Rachel’s servant, conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8 Rachel said, “I have wrestled with my sister with mighty wrestlings, and have prevailed.” She named him Naphtali.

9 When Leah saw that she had finished bearing, she took Zilpah, her servant, and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 10 Zilpah, Leah’s servant, bore Jacob a son. 11 Leah said, “How fortunate!” She named him Gad. 12 Zilpah, Leah’s servant, bore Jacob a second son. 13 Leah said, “Happy am I, for the daughters will call me happy.” She named him Asher.

Today’s Meditation: 

Jacob is undoubtedly an interesting Bible character. It was clear that he loved Rachel from the beginning, yet he ended up with three more wives. He has multiple children, and there is some bickering between the women. What went wrong, or did everything go right? It’s hard to say what would have happened if Jacob had just married Rachel. Would she be the mother of the twelve tribes of Israel, or did Hashem have it in His plan to have four mothers? It’s fascinating. Again, I would suggest that when we have a desire and a prayer request for Hashem, it’s better to wait. His way is definitely higher than ours.

Today’s Challenge: 

Would you sacrifice seven years to get a prayer answered? We are accustomed to instant results in everything we do. How many of us would actually sacrifice something to achieve the answer to the prayer? Jacob did not hesitate. He knew right away that he would work and make sacrifices to marry Rachel. Would you do this? My challenge today is to spend some time thinking about what you would have done if you were Jacob.

Vayetze - Day #2

Vayetze וַיֵּצֵא - And He Went Out  

Torah Portion: Genesis 28:10-32:3

Genesis 29:1-17

29 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east. 2 He looked, and saw a well in the field, and saw three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well, they watered the flocks. The stone on the well’s mouth was large. 3 There all the flocks were gathered. They rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, watered the sheep, and put the stone back on the well’s mouth in its place. 4 Jacob said to them, “My relatives, where are you from?”

They said, “We are from Haran.”

5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?”

They said, “We know him.”

6 He said to them, “Is it well with him?”

They said, “It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep.”

7 He said, “Behold, it is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.”

8 They said, “We can’t, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth. Then we will water the sheep.”

9 While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she kept them. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban, his mother’s brother. 11 Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. 12 Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative, and that he was Rebekah’s son. She ran and told her father.

13 When Laban heard the news of Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things. 14 Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” Jacob stayed with him for a month. 15 Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?”

16 Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.

Today’s Meditation: 

In verse 11, Jacob “lifted up his voice and wept.” That’s curious. Why did he weep? Could it be that when he met Rachel, he knew his prayers for a wife had been answered? Have you ever had a time when Hashem responded to your prayers in such a magnificent and obvious way that it took your breath away and you wept?

I recall a time when we were searching for a house. It had to be a unique house because we have two adult disabled sons and need a specific type of space. One day, while driving down a street in the town we wanted to live in, I saw a house for sale. The next day, we saw it. When we walked into the house, I felt like crying. It was exactly what we were praying for and what we had been looking for. And another miracle was that the sellers accepted a very unusual offer from us. Hashem was truly in this.

Today’s Challenge: 

Look all around you during the day to see how Hashem is moving in your life. Look for the “woman who will come to the well”. Seek the unusual and deliberately look to see what He is doing. When you see Him answering your prayer and/or doing something distinctly His, give Him all the praise and glory.

Vayetze - Day #1

Vayetze וַיֵּצֵא - And He Went Out  

Torah Portion: Genesis 28:10-32:3

Genesis 28:10–22

29:10 Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. 11 He came to a certain place, and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. He took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 He dreamed and saw a stairway set upon the earth, and its top reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 Behold, Hashem stood above it, and said, “I am Hashem, the Elohim of Abraham your father, and the Elohim of Isaac. I will give the land you lie on to you and to your offspring. 14 Your offspring will be as the dust of the earth, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. In you and in your offspring, all the families of the earth will be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you until I have done that which I have spoken of to you.”

16 Jacob awakened out of his sleep, and he said, “Surely Hashem is in this place, and I didn’t know it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome this place is! This is none other than Elohim’s house, and this is the gate of heaven.”

18 Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on its top. 19 He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 20 Jacob vowed a vow, saying, “If Elohim will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and clothing to put on, 21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, and Hashem will be my Elohim, 22 then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, will be Elohim’s house. Of all that you will give me, I will surely give a tenth to you.”

Today’s Meditation: 

In verse 16, “Hashem is in this place!” It was clear to Jacob that, because of his extraordinary and blessed dream, Hashem must be in the place where he had it (Bethel). I wonder if his sense of Hashem’s presence in that place was different than in other areas. It reminds me of the times in my life when I sensed G-d's presence. Where it felt so intensely peaceful and wonderful, and where I could hear His voice so clearly. 

For me, such a place has been the Western Wall (Kotel) in Jerusalem. It’s sometimes called the “Prayer Wall”. Every time I have visited that wall, the presence of Hashem was strong. In prayers, there I felt like He would show me extraordinary things. I kept a journal and wrote everything down. Has there ever been a place, space, or time that you felt the presence of Hashem? What was it like?

**Sages believe the place where Jacob had his dream was actually the same place where the Temple was (now the Temple Mount). That is logical, since the ladder reaching to heaven was in that place.

Today’s Challenge: 

Take some time out today to sit and listen to Hashem. Pray and ask Him to show Himself to you in a special way. Hear what He has to tell you. Write it down. Believe Him.

Toldot - Day #7

Toldot, תּוֹלְדֹת - Generations  

Torah Portion: Genesis 25:19-28:9

Haftarah: Malachi 1:1-2:7

Shabbat: Genesis 28:5–9

28:5 Isaac sent Jacob away. He went to Paddan Aram to Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother.

6 Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan Aram, to take him a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a command, saying, “You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;” 7 and that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Paddan Aram. 8 Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan didn’t please Isaac, his father. 9 So Esau went to Ishmael, and took, in addition to the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.

Today’s Meditation: 

In verse 7, we read that Jacob “obeyed his father and his mother”. I find this interesting because he also obeyed his mother to trick his father into believing he was Esau. This verse makes you feel that he earnestly wants to obey them. We were not there to understand everything, but we do understand and should follow this commandment. 

When my parents were old and getting ready to die, I remembered this commandment to honor them. No matter how hard it was, the sacrifices that had to be made were significant. It was a blessing in the end. I made sure, with the help of others, that my parents were well cared for, loved, and had every need met to the best of my ability. I tried to respect them until the day they died. It was so important, and I am so glad I obeyed Hashem in this way.

Today’s Challenge: 

If your parents are still alive and you are having a hard time honoring them, remember Hashem’s commandment to do so. As challenging as it may seem, you will be glad you did it in the end. If you hold any anger or hurt toward them, settle it today. They may not be here tomorrow.

This Week’s Haftarah: Malachi 1:1-2:7

1 A revelation, Hashem’s word to Israel by Malachi.

2 “I have loved you,” says Hashem.

Yet you say, “How have you loved us?”

“Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother?” says Hashem, “Yet I loved Jacob; 3 but Esau I hated, and made his mountains a desolation, and gave his heritage to the jackals of the wilderness.” 4 Whereas Edom says, “We are beaten down, but we will return and build the waste places,” Hashem of Armies says, “They shall build, but I will throw down; and men will call them ‘The Wicked Land,’ even the people against whom Hashem shows wrath forever.”

5 Your eyes will see, and you will say, “Hashem is great—even beyond the border of Israel!”

6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, then where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is the respect due me? Says Hashem of Armies to you, priests, who despise my name. You say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ 7 You offer polluted bread on my altar. You say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ In that you say, ‘Hashem’s table is contemptible.’ 8 When you offer the blind for sacrifice, isn’t that evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, isn’t that evil? Present it now to your governor! Will he be pleased with you? Or will he accept your person?” says Hashem of Armies

9 “Now, please entreat the favor of Elohim, that he may be gracious to us. With this, will he accept any of you?” says Hashem of Armies.

10 “Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you,” says Hashem of Armies, “neither will I accept an offering at your hand. 11 For from the rising of the sun even to its going down, My name is great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering: for My name is great among the nations,” says Hashem of Armies. 12 “But you profane it, in that you say, ‘Hashem’s table is polluted, and its fruit, even its food, is contemptible.’ 13 You say also, ‘Behold, what a weariness it is!’ and you have sniffed at it”, says Hashem of Armies; “and you have brought that which was taken by violence, the lame, and the sick; thus you bring the offering. Should I accept this at your hand?” says Hashem.

14 “But the deceiver is cursed, who has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices to Adonai a defective thing; for I am a great King,” says Hashem of Armies, “and My name is awesome among the nations.”

2 “Now, you priests, this commandment is for you. 2 If you will not listen, and if you will not take it to heart, to give glory to My name,” says Hashem of Armies, “then I will send the curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have cursed them already, because you do not take it to heart. 3 Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and will spread dung on your faces, even the dung of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it. 4 You will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that My covenant may be with Levi,” says Hashem of Armies. 5 “My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him that he might be reverent toward Me; and he was reverent toward Me, and stood in awe of My name. 6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found in his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness and turned many away from iniquity. 7 For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Hashem of Armies.

Today’s Haftarah Meditation: 

Hashem wants the best from us. As in verse 11, “For from the rising of the sun even to its going down, My name is great among the nations...” There is no other god, no other Name to be worshiped. So, our offerings, whether they be physical or spiritual, should be daily unto Him. He deserves only the best. As we honor our parents, we honor G-d first. Remember this.

Today’s Haftarah Challenge: 

The next time you get depressed, remember that Elohim is L-rd of all. He knows what you are going through, and He wants to help. All we need to do is be obedient and faithful. To honor Him in all our ways. May His light shine through us daily, serving as a witness to His love for others. Rise above your problems and focus on Him alone. It will change your life, change your day.