Daily Chumash & Rashi Rishon Vayeitzei – Yaakov’s dream

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Rishon

  1. Yaakov’s dream:
    • Yaakov sleeps during his journey to Charan: Yaakov departed from Beer Sheva and traveled towards Charan. [During his journey] he encountered the place [called Har Hamoriah, or the Temple Mount] and slept there, being that the sun had set. He took stones from the area and placed them around his head and laid down to sleep.
    • The dream, the angels, and the blessings from G-d: Yaakov had a dream. In the dream he saw a ladder reaching from the earth to the heavens, and there were angels ascending and descending from it. Hashem was standing over Yaakov and He said to him “I am Hashem the G-d of Avraham your father, and the G-d of Yitzchak. The land which you are resting on will be given to you and your descendants. Your descendants will multiply like the dust of the earth, and you will burst forth to all the directions of the world, the east, west, north and south. All the earth will bless themselves through you and your descendants. I am with you, and I will guard you wherever you go. I will return you to this land.”
  1. Yaakov awakens and makes a vow to Hashem:
  • Yaakov awakened from his sleep and he said, indeed, G-d is found in this place and I did not know. Yaakov became frightened and said “How awe-striking is this place. This is non other than a house of G-d and it is the gate of Heaven.”
  • The Matzeiva: Yaakov awoke in the morning and took the stone that he placed around his head and erected it as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. He called the place “Beis Eil,” however Luz was its original name.
  • The vow: Yaakov then made a vow, stating “If G-d will be with me, and guard me on my journey, and provide me with food to eat and clothing to wear, and return me to my father’s home in peace, and become for me a G-d, then this stone which I have set up will become a house of G-d, and all that I will earn will be tithed for You.”

Bereshit 28 – Rashi Q&A 

Departure and Its Significance

  1. Why does the Torah say “וַיֵּצֵא יַעֲקֹב” (Yaakov left) instead of simply “Yaakov went to Charan”?
    To teach that the departure of a righteous person leaves an impression. While the righteous person is in a city, they bring glory, brilliance, and honor. When they leave, these qualities depart with them.
  2. What does “וַיֵּלֶךְ חָרָנָה” mean?
    It means “he set out for Charan,” indicating the beginning of his journey.

The Place and Prayer

  1. What is “the place” that Yaakov came upon?
    It refers to Mount Moriah, the site of the future Temple, where Avraham bound Yitzchak.
  2. Why does Rashi interpret “וַיִּפְגַּע בַּמָּקוֹם” as prayer?
    Because “פגע” can mean “to beseech,” as in “Do not beseech Me.” From this, the Sages teach that Yaakov instituted the evening prayer (Ma’ariv).
  3. Why did the Torah use “וַיִּפְגַּע” instead of “וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל”?
    To teach that the ground miraculously shrank for Yaakov, allowing him to reach the holy place quickly.

Miracles and Details

  1. Why did the sun set suddenly?
    It set before its time so that Yaakov would be forced to stop and sleep at that holy place.
  2. Why did Yaakov place stones around his head?
    He feared wild animals. The stones then “quarreled” over which would support his head, so God merged them into one stone.
  3. What does “וַיִּשְׁכַּב בַּמָּקוֹם הַהוּא” teach us?
    That only in that place did Yaakov lie down to sleep; for 14 years in the study house of Ever, he did not lie down at night, being fully engaged in Torah study.

The Dream and Its Meaning

  1. Why does the verse say angels were “ascending and descending” instead of the reverse?
    The angels of the Land of Israel first ascended because they could not leave the land, and then angels assigned to lands outside Israel descended to accompany Yaakov.
  2. What does the ladder symbolize according to Midrash?
    It represents the connection between heaven and earth, and the middle of its slope aligned with the future site of the Temple in Jerusalem.

God’s Promise

  1. What does “נִצָּב עָלָיו” mean?
    It means God was standing over Yaakov to guard him.
  2. Why does God identify as “the God of Yitzchak” even though Yitzchak was still alive?
    Normally God does not associate His name with the living, but Yitzchak was considered as if dead because his eyes were dim and he was confined to his home, free from the evil inclination.
  3. What is the meaning of “the land upon which you are lying”?
    God miraculously contracted the entire Land of Israel beneath Yaakov, symbolizing that his descendants would easily conquer it.
  4. What does “וּפָרַצְתָּ” mean in this context?
    It means “you will grow strong,” as in “the more they would spread,” which also denotes strength.
  5. Why does God reassure Yaakov with “אָנֹכִי עִמָּךְ”?
    Because Yaakov was afraid of Esav and Lavan.

Yaakov’s Reaction

  1. Why did Yaakov say, “וְאָנֹכִי לֹא יָדָעְתִּי” (I was not aware)?
    He realized the holiness of the place and regretted sleeping there.
  2. Why was Yaakov afraid after his dream?
    He realized the awe and sanctity of the place, saying, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the House of God and the gateway to heaven.”
  3. What does “כִּי אִם־בֵּית אֱלֹהִים” mean?
    It means the site is destined to be the House of God—the Temple.
  4. What is meant by “וְזֶה שַׁעַר הַשָּׁמָיִם”?
    It is the gateway through which prayer ascends to heaven; the earthly Temple corresponds to the heavenly Temple.

Yaakov’s Vow

  1. What does Yaakov’s vow include?
    If God protects him, provides sustenance, and returns him in peace, Yaakov will dedicate the stone as God’s house and give a tenth of all he receives.
  2. What does “בְשָׁלוֹם” mean in Yaakov’s vow?
    It means returning free of sin, not learning from Lavan’s ways.
  3. What does “וְהָיָה ה’ לִי לֵאלֹהִים” mean?
    That God’s name will rest upon him and his descendants, ensuring pure lineage.
  4. What is the significance of the stone Yaakov set up?
    It would become a monument for serving God, as Onkelos translates: “Upon it I will serve God.”
  5. How did Yaakov fulfill his vow later?
    When God told him to return to Bethel, Yaakov erected a monument and poured a wine libation upon it.
  6. Why does Yaakov promise to give a tenth?
    As an act of gratitude and devotion, dedicating a portion of his blessings to God.

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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