Vayetze
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Vayetze, Vayeitzei, or Vayetzei (Hebrew for “and he left”) is the seventh weekly parshah or portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. It constitutes Genesis 28:10–32:3. Jews in the Diaspora read it the seventh Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in November or December.
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[edit] Summary
To escape his brother Esau's vengeance, Jacob traveled to his uncle Laban in Padan-aram, having been charged by Isaac to find a wife there. On the way, God appeared to Jacob at night, promising protection and aid for him and the land for his numerous descendants.
Arrived at Haran, Jacob hired himself to Laban, on condition that, after having served for seven years as a herdsman, he would have for wife Laban’s younger daughter, Rachel, with whom Jacob fell in love. At the end of this period, Laban gave him the elder daughter, Leah. Jacob therefore served another seven years for Rachel, and after that six years more for cattle. In the meantime, Leah bore him Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. By Rachel's maid Bilhah, Jacob had Dan and Naphtali. By Zilpah, Leah's maid, Jacob had Gad and Asher. Then, by Leah again, he had Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah. And finally, by Rachel, Jacob had Joseph. Jacob also acquired much wealth in flocks. In fear of Laban, Jacob fled with his family, and soon became reconciled with Laban.
[edit] Commandments
According to Maimonides and Sefer ha-Chinuch, there are no commandments in the parshah. (See, e.g., Maimonides. The Commandments: Sefer Ha-Mitzvoth of Maimonides. Translated by Charles B. Chavel, 2 vols. London: Soncino Press, 1967. ISBN 0900689714. Sefer HaHinnuch: The Book of [Mitzvah] Education. Translated by Charles Wengrov, vol. 1, 87. Jerusalem: Feldheim Pub., 1991. ISBN 0873061799.)
[edit] Haftarah
The haftarah for the parshah is:
- for Ashkenazi Jews: Hosea 12:13–14:10
- for Karaite Jews: Hosea 11:7–13:5
[edit] Further reading
The parshah has parallels or is discussed in these sources:
- Thomas Mann, John E. Woods (trans.). Joseph and His Brothers, 24–25, 37, 47, 51, 87. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. ISBN 1400040019.
- Denise Levertov. “The Jacob’s Ladder” in Harold Bloom, American Religious Poems, 379. Library of America, 2006. ISBN 978-1-931082-74-7.
[edit] External links
- Parashat Vayetzei
- Masoretic text and 1917 JPS translation
- Commentaries from the Jewish Theological Seminary
- Torah Insights from the Orthodox Union
- Commentaries from Chabad-Lubavitch
- Commentaries from the Union for Reform Judaism
- Commentaries from Reconstructionist Judaism
- Text studies and commentaries from MyJewishLearning.com
Exodus — Shemot • Va'eira • Bo • Beshalach • Yitro • Mishpatim • Terumah • Tetzaveh • Ki Tisa • Vayakhel • Pekudei
Leviticus — Vayikra • Tzav • Shemini • Tazria • Metzora • Acharei • Kedoshim • Emor • Behar • Bechukotai
Numbers — Bamidbar • Naso • Behaalotecha • Shlach • Korach • Chukat • Balak • Pinchas • Matot • Masei
Deuteronomy — Devarim • Va'etchanan • Eikev • Re'eh • Shoftim • Ki Teitzei • Ki Tavo • Nitzavim • Vayelech • Haazinu • V'Zot HaBerachah
