Vayetzei

📜 The Story

Yaakov Avinu left Beer Sheva and set out for Charan, to the home of his uncle Lavan. As the sun set, he stopped to sleep at a special place, Har HaMoriah. He took stones and placed them under his head, and lay down to sleep.

That night Yaakov dreamed a wondrous dream: a ladder stood on the ground with its top reaching the heavens, and angels of God were going up and down on it. Hashem Himself appeared to him and promised to protect him, to bring him back to the Land of Israel, and that his descendants would be as numerous as the dust of the earth. Yaakov awoke and said, 'Surely Hashem is in this place, and I did not know it,' and he named the place Beit El.

Yaakov continued to Charan and arrived at a well where shepherds gathered with their flocks. There he met Rachel, daughter of Lavan, and rejoiced greatly. He worked for Lavan seven years for Rachel, but Lavan deceived him and gave him Leah instead, and afterward gave him Rachel too, for another seven years of work.

In Yaakov's household most of the tribes of Israel were born: Reuven, Shimon, Levi, Yehuda, Dan, Naftali, Gad, Asher, Yissachar, and Zevulun, along with one daughter, Dina. Each name was carefully chosen and expresses thanks or a prayer of his mother.

After twenty years of working for Lavan, Yaakov decided to return to his land with his wives, children, and great wealth. Lavan chased after him, but in the end they made a peaceful covenant, and a mound of stones was set up as a witness. Yaakov continued on his way and angels of God met him, so he named the place Machanayim.