by Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant
Love, loss, rivalry, and betrayal: These words read like an advertisement for a blockbuster movie, a new must-read thriller. However, in the context of this week’s Parsha (Vayeitzei), each of these words are critical, both to understanding the nature of the individuals involved, and to the consequences of their actions.
In last week’s Torah Parsha (Tol’Dot), Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, literally stole the final blessing and birthright from his older brother, Esau. Rebekah feared for Jacob’s life, believing that Esau might avenge himself by killing his younger twin brother. “Jacob, get going and flee to my brother Laban in Haran. You can stay there until your brother’s rage cools down”(1).
Jacob sets out on a long journey to a distant land. On his first night away from home, he falls asleep and dreams “A stairway was set on the ground and its top reached to the sky”(2). In his dream, Jacob hears the voice of God, “Here I am and I will watch you wherever you go”.(3) Jacob awakens and affirms the Presence of God, “This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate to heaven” (4).
However, Jacob’s ‘ladder’ is fragile, and his faith is tenuous. As one day follows another, he begins to question the existence of God, “If god is with me and watches over me, then will the Eternal be my God” (5). Jacob continues on his journey, finally reaching his new home with his Uncle Laban, and his two daughters: Leah and her younger sister, Rachel. The first time that Jacob sees the beautiful Rachel, “he kissed her and broke into tears”(6). It was literally love at first sight. Faith is a fluid element, and Jacob began climbing the ladder, hoping that God would watch over him, and give him a wife of his choice and a family.
Jacob approached his Uncle Laban, and suggested that he work for his Uncle for seven years, for Rachel as his wife in return. However, Leah, the older sister was not married, and also in love with Jacob. Local custom dictated that the older sister must marry first. In accordance with this tradition, Laban substituted Leah to be Jacob’s wife. This deception set the stage for intense jealousy between Rachel, who would always have to share the man she loved, and Leah, who would have to live with the knowledge that she was not Jacob’s first choice (7).
It would be another seven years before Jacob could marry Rachel. However, there is something to be considered about Jacob’s misfortune: Between Leah, Rachel and their maidservants, Jacob sired twelve sons, who became the ancestors of the twelve tribes of Israel (8).
One major value to the Torah is that the individuals portrayed in each Parsha are human, with strengths, weaknesses, abilities, to commit acts of greatness, as well as acts of evil. The soul of Judaism is in proper living. The Torah, when discussed and reflected upon, offers God’s rules and guidelines to help keep us on the proper path.
Footnotes:
(1) Genesis (27:42-2744)
(2) Genesis (28:12)
(3) Genesis (28:15)
(4) Genesis (28:27)
(5) Genesis (28:20-21)
(6) Genesis (29:11)
(7) The Torah: A Women’s Commentary
(8) The Torah: A Modern Commentary