Making a Change

(א) וַיִּשְׁמַ֗ע אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֤י בְנֵֽי־לָבָן֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לָקַ֣ח יַעֲקֹ֔ב אֵ֖ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאָבִ֑ינוּ וּמֵאֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאָבִ֔ינוּ עָשָׂ֕ה אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַכָּבֹ֖ד הַזֶּֽה׃ (ב) וַיַּ֥רְא יַעֲקֹ֖ב אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י לָבָ֑ן וְהִנֵּ֥ה אֵינֶ֛נּוּ עִמּ֖וֹ כִּתְמ֥וֹל שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם׃ (ג) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר ה' אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֔ב שׁ֛וּב אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ אֲבוֹתֶ֖יךָ וּלְמוֹלַדְתֶּ֑ךָ וְאֶֽהְיֶ֖ה עִמָּֽךְ׃

Genesis 31:1-3

(1) Now he heard the things that Laban’s sons were saying: “Jacob has taken all that was our father’s, and from that which was our father’s he has built up all this wealth.” (2) Jacob also saw that Laban’s manner toward him was not as it had been in the past. (3) Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers where you were born, and I will be with you.”

1 א - יעקב עומד לקבל החלטה על שינוי בחייו: מעבר מבית חמיו בחרן בחזרה לכנען. מה גרם ליעקב לקבל את ההחלטה?

1a - Yaakov (Jacob) is about to make a life changing decision and move from his father-in-law Lavan (Laban) home in Haran back to Canaan. What caused Yaakov to make this decision?

בראשית ל״א:ד׳-ז׳

(ד) וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח יַעֲקֹ֔ב וַיִּקְרָ֖א לְרָחֵ֣ל וּלְלֵאָ֑ה הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה אֶל־צֹאנֽוֹ׃ (ה) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֗ן רֹאֶ֤ה אָנֹכִי֙ אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י אֲבִיכֶ֔ן כִּֽי־אֵינֶ֥נּוּ אֵלַ֖י כִּתְמֹ֣ל שִׁלְשֹׁ֑ם וֵֽאלֹקֵ֣י אָבִ֔י הָיָ֖ה עִמָּדִֽי׃ (ו) וְאַתֵּ֖נָה יְדַעְתֶּ֑ן כִּ֚י בְּכָל־כֹּחִ֔י עָבַ֖דְתִּי אֶת־אֲבִיכֶֽן׃ (ז) וַאֲבִיכֶן֙ הֵ֣תֶל בִּ֔י וְהֶחֱלִ֥ף אֶת־מַשְׂכֻּרְתִּ֖י עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת מֹנִ֑ים וְלֹֽא־נְתָנ֣וֹ אֱלֹקִ֔ים לְהָרַ֖ע עִמָּדִֽי׃

Genesis 31:4-7

(4) Jacob had Rachel and Leah called to the field, where his flock was, (5) and said to them, “I see that your father’s manner toward me is not as it has been in the past. But the God of my father has been with me. (6) As you know, I have served your father with all my might; (7) but your father has cheated me, changing my wages time and again. God, however, would not let him do me harm.

2 א - מדוע יעקב מבקש לשוחח עם נשותיו רחל ולאה? מדוע בשדה?

2a - Why does Yaakov ask to talk with his wives Rachel and Leah? Why in the field?

בראשית ל״א:י״ד-י״ז

(יד) וַתַּ֤עַן רָחֵל֙ וְלֵאָ֔ה וַתֹּאמַ֖רְנָה ל֑וֹ הַע֥וֹד לָ֛נוּ חֵ֥לֶק וְנַחֲלָ֖ה בְּבֵ֥ית אָבִֽינוּ׃ (טו) הֲל֧וֹא נָכְרִיּ֛וֹת נֶחְשַׁ֥בְנוּ ל֖וֹ כִּ֣י מְכָרָ֑נוּ וַיֹּ֥אכַל גַּם־אָכ֖וֹל אֶת־כַּסְפֵּֽנוּ׃ (טז) כִּ֣י כָל־הָעֹ֗שֶׁר אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִצִּ֤יל אֱלֹקִים֙ מֵֽאָבִ֔ינוּ לָ֥נוּ ה֖וּא וּלְבָנֵ֑ינוּ וְעַתָּ֗ה כֹּל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָמַ֧ר אֱלֹקִ֛ים אֵלֶ֖יךָ עֲשֵֽׂה׃ (יז) וַיָּ֖קָם יַעֲקֹ֑ב וַיִּשָּׂ֛א אֶת־בָּנָ֥יו וְאֶת־נָשָׁ֖יו עַל־הַגְּמַלִּֽים׃

Genesis 31:14-17

(14) Then Rachel and Leah answered him, saying, “Have we still a share in the inheritance of our father’s house? (15) Surely, he regards us as outsiders, now that he has sold us and has used up our purchase price. (16) Truly, all the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. Now then, do just as God has told you.” (17) Thereupon Jacob put his children and wives on camels;

3א. מה תגובת רחל ולאה לבקשת יעקב? האם הן תומכות בו? למה?

3a. What is the respond of Rachel and Leah to their husband's request? Do they support him? Why?

4. In your work setting, have you initiated any major changes recently? Please share example(s).

5. Choose one change. What were the "signs" that led you to the decision that change needed to happen? What did you hear? What did you see?

6. Did you consult with others before making the final decision about a change? With whom? Did their opinion affected your decision in any way? How?