Daily Chumash & Rashi Sheiyni Vayeitzei – Yaakov arrives to Charan

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Sheiyni

  1. Yaakov arrives to Charan:
  • The rock sitting on the well: Yaakov lifted his feet and traveled towards the land of the east [to Charan]. He arrived [at Charan] and saw three flocks of sheep lying around the drinking well. There was a very large stone sitting on the opening of the well. Customarily, the shepherds would wait until all the flocks of sheep had arrived and they would then together roll the rock off the well and water the sheep.
  • Yaakov converses with the shepherds: Yaakov asked the shepherds “My brothers, where are you from,” to which they replied “we are from Charan.” Yaakov then asked the shepherds if they knew Lavan the son of Nachor and they replied in the affirmative. They said that Lavan is doing well, and behold here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep. Yaakov chastised the shepherds, telling them it is not yet time to settle the sheep, as the day is still long, and they should water them and then go back to grazing. They replied that they cannot do so until all the shepherds have gathered and are then able to roll the stone off the well.
  • Yaakov meets Rachel and removes the stone: While they were talking, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, as she was a shepherd. When Yaakov saw his cousin Rachel, he stepped forward and rolled the rock off the well opening and gave the sheep of Lavan to drink. Yaakov kissed Rachel and cried with a raised voice. He told her that he is her cousin, the son of Rivka. Rachel ran to tell her father of the news of his arrival.
  • Yaakov meets Lavan: When Lavan heard of his nephews arrival he ran to greet him. He kissed him and hugged him and brought him into his house. Yaakov told Lavan all that had transpired [with Eisav]. Lavan responded to Yaakov “Do not worry, You are my bone and my flesh.” Yaakov lodged by Lavan for thirty days.

 

  1. Yaakov works to marry Rachel:
  • [Yaakov began working for Lavan for free, and thus] Lavan told Yaakov that just because they are family does not mean that he has to work for him for free, and that Yaakov should ask for a salary.
  • Lavan’s daughters: Lavan had two daughters, the older one was Leah and the younger was Rachel. The eyes of Leah were tender while Rachel was beautiful in both figure and appearance.

Rashi Q&A

Bereshit 29 – Q&A Study Guide (Rashi)

 

Yaakov’s Journey and Arrival

  1. What does “וַיִּשָּׂא יַעֲקֹב רַגְלָיו” teach us?

After receiving God’s promise of protection, Yaakov’s heart lifted his feet, making his journey easier.

 

  1. Where did Yaakov travel after leaving Be’er Sheva?

To the land of the people of the East (Aram Naharayim).

 

  1. What did Yaakov see upon arriving in the field?

A well covered by a large stone and three flocks lying nearby.

 

  1. Why was the stone so large?

To prevent theft and keep the water pure; it required several shepherds to remove it together.

 

  1. What does “וְנֶאֶסְפוּ” indicate?

That the flocks would usually gather there daily for watering.

 

Conversation with the Shepherds

  1. How did Yaakov address the shepherds?

He called them “my brothers” and asked where they were from.

 

  1. What did Yaakov tell them about the time of day?

“The day is still long; it is not yet time to gather the flocks—water them and continue pasturing.”

 

  1. Why did the shepherds refuse to water the flocks immediately?

They said they could not until all shepherds arrived to roll the stone together.

 

Rachel’s Arrival and Yaakov’s Strength

  1. What does the accent difference in “בָּאָה” teach us?

With accent on the aleph: “she is coming” (present tense); with accent on the bet: “she came” (past tense).

 

  1. What did Yaakov do when Rachel arrived?

He rolled the massive stone off the well single-handedly and watered Lavan’s flock.

 

  1. How does Rashi describe Yaakov’s strength?

He rolled the stone as easily as removing a stopper from a bottle.

 

Yaakov’s Tears and Explanation

  1. Why did Yaakov cry after kissing Rachel?

He foresaw she would not be buried with him and lamented arriving empty-handed.

 

  1. Why was Yaakov penniless?

Elifaz, Esav’s son, robbed him after being ordered to kill him; Yaakov gave him all his possessions, saying “a poor man is considered dead.”

 

Meeting Lavan

  1. What did Yaakov tell Rachel about himself?

He was her father’s relative and Rebecca’s son.

 

  1. Why did Rachel tell her father rather than her mother?

Her mother had died; she had no one else to inform.

 

  1. How did Lavan greet Yaakov?

He ran to him, embraced him, and kissed him—checking if Yaakov had valuables hidden in his clothes or mouth.

 

  1. What did Yaakov explain to Lavan?

That he fled because of Esav and had lost his wealth.

 

  1. What did Lavan mean by “אַךְ עַצְמִי וּבְשָׂרִי”?

“You are truly my flesh and blood”—I will host you for a month, though you have nothing.

 

Leah and Rachel

  1. How does Rashi explain Leah’s “רַכּוֹת” eyes?

They were tender from constant weeping, fearing she would marry Esav.

 

  1. What does “תֹּאַר” refer to?

The shape of the face.

 

  1. What does “מַרְאֶה” refer to?

The complexion and beauty of facial features.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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