Questions
1. Is he a good person?
2. Does he deserve to be one of the Avot? (the best?)
3. How does the Torah present us the story of Yaakov, what is it teaching us?
4. What does it mean to become ישראל?
5. How does the story end?
(א) וַיִּירָא יַעֲקֹב מְאֹד וַיֵּצֶר לוֹ (בראשית לב, ח), רַבִּי פִּינְחָס בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי רְאוּבֵן, שְׁנֵי בְּנֵי אָדָם הִבְטִיחָן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְנִתְיָרְאוּ, הַבָּחוּר שֶׁבָּאָבוֹת וְהַבָּחוּר שֶׁבַּנְּבִיאִים, הַבָּחוּר שֶׁבָּאָבוֹת זֶה יַעֲקֹב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קלה, ד): כִּי יַעֲקֹב בָּחַר לוֹ יָהּ, וְאָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא (בראשית כח, טו): וְהִנֵּה אָנֹכִי עִמָּךְ, וּבַסּוֹף נִתְיָרֵא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיִּירָא יַעֲקֹב. הַבָּחוּר שֶׁבַּנְבִיאִים זֶה משֶׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קו, כג): לוּלֵי משֶׁה בְחִירוֹ, וְאָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא (שמות ג, יב): כִּי אֶהְיֶה עִמְּךָ, וּלְבַסּוֹף נִתְיָרֵא (במדבר כא, לד): וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל משֶׁה אַל תִּירָא אֹתוֹ, אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר אַל תִּירָא אֹתוֹ, אֶלָּא לְמִי שֶׁנִּתְיָרֵא.
(1) And Jacob became very frightened and distressed (Genesis 32,8). Rabbi Pinchos says in the name of Rabbi Re'uven that there were two people that Hashem promised them and nevetheless they were afraid. The chosen of the patriarchs and the chosen of the prophets. The chosen of the patriarchs is Jacob as it states (Psalms 135,4) "For Jacob, Y-H chose for Him" and and Hashem said to him (Genesis 28,15) "And behold I am with you" and at the end, he became frightened as it says "And Jacob became frightened". The chosen of the prophets is Moshe as it says (Psalms 106,23) "Were it not for Moshe His chosen one" and Hashem said to him "For I will be with you" and in the end he became frightened as it says (Numbers 21:34) "And Hashem said to Moshe, don't fear him" Hashem would only say "Don't fear him" to someone who has become afraid.
How do you feel after reading that midrash?
What do you make of the comparison?
Read 25:26-34. Describe your thoughts on Yaakov.
Read 27:6-12. How does this story color your picture of him?
Read 27:18-29.
Read 27:35-36. What key word is used in 35?
Part 2
Read 28:10-22
What question do you have?
Read verse 13 carefully. How does God introduce Himself to Yaakov? With what name?
How does God refer to His relationship with Yaakov's father and grandfather?
What is the difference?
(ג) ברא אלהים וְלֹא נֶאֱמַר בָּרָא ה', שֶׁבַּתְּחִלָּה עָלָה בְמַחֲשָׁבָה לִבְרֹאתוֹ בְּמִדַּת הַדִּין, רָאָה שֶׁאֵין הָעוֹלָם מִתְקַיֵּם, הִקְדִּים מִדַּת רַחֲמִים וְשִׁתְּפָהּ לְמִדת הדין, וְהַיְינוּ דִּכְתִיב בְּיוֹם עֲשׂוֹת ה' אֱלֹהִים אֶרֶץ וְשָׁמָיִם:
I believe this distinction in names of God represents the key in reading Yaakov's story and process of Teshuva.
Read verses 16 and 17 carefully. What is Yaakov saying?
Now read verse 20. What is Yaakov's neder about?
And 21, explain the unclear final expression.
What has Yaakov taken upon himself at this critical moment in his life?
Part 3
ch. 29:18-28 Why does Yaakov accept Lavan's deception and work for him for seven more years?
Verse 31. Why does ה׳ appear to Leah?
How does Leah view God? See verse 32,33,35
Now read ch 30 verses 1,2. when Rachel demands a child how does Yaakov respond? Which God?
Rachel responds in verses 3,4,5 and then how does she refer to the child she has through Bilhaa?
In verses 14-17 Rachel and Leah sacrifice to get what they want. How does that sacrifice manifest in terms of their names for their children and their relationship with God? see 17,18,20,22,23
*Verse 24. What does Rachel know that Yaakov doesn't?
Part 4
Read ch. 32:2,3 This is the conclusion of Parshat Vayetze. Notice the difference between Yaakov's 'meeting' in the beginning of the parsha and his 'meeting' at the end. What changed?
Parshat Vayishlach. Yaakov is told Esav is approaching with 400 men. He prays to God. To which God? Why? see 32:8-13
Read 32:25-33. How do you (now) understand the epic battle between Yaakov and the 'ish'? Why do you think Yaakov asked him his name? in 31 What does he name the place? What is the significance of the naming?
What does it mean that Yaakov has a new name?
33:10,11 Note the name Elohim in Yaakov's dealing with Esav, returning him the bracha.
33:20 What name does Yaakov give when erecting his monument? Why?
Ch. 35. Tragedy. Yaakov refrains from acting even though the plan of the sons made sense under the circumstance. Why was Yaakov unable to act? Note the word used in the plan in verse 34:13!
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וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֔ב ק֛וּם עֲלֵ֥ה בֵֽית־אֵ֖ל וְשֶׁב־שָׁ֑ם וַעֲשֵׂה־שָׁ֣ם מִזְבֵּ֔חַ לָאֵל֙ הַנִּרְאֶ֣ה אֵלֶ֔יךָ בְּבׇ֨רְחֲךָ֔ מִפְּנֵ֖י עֵשָׂ֥ו אָחִֽיךָ׃ וְנָק֥וּמָה וְנַעֲלֶ֖ה בֵּֽית־אֵ֑ל וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־שָּׁ֣ם מִזְבֵּ֗חַ לָאֵ֞ל הָעֹנֶ֤ה אֹתִי֙ בְּי֣וֹם צָֽרָתִ֔י וַיְהִי֙ עִמָּדִ֔י בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָלָֽכְתִּי׃ וַיִּ֤בֶן שָׁם֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ וַיִּקְרָא֙ לַמָּק֔וֹם אֵ֖ל בֵּֽית־אֵ֑ל כִּ֣י שָׁ֗ם נִגְל֤וּ אֵלָיו֙ הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים בְּבׇרְח֖וֹ מִפְּנֵ֥י אָחִֽיו׃
God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and remain there; and build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.” Come, let us go up to Bethel, and I will build an altar there to the God who answered me when I was in distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone.”There he built an altar and named the site El-bethel, for it was there that God had been revealed to him when he was fleeing from his brother.
Why does God tell Yaakov to go back to Bet El? What needs to happen?
What is the significance of calling the mizbeach 'El Bet El'?
What is unique in the last line where he refers to how God appeared to him?
God appeared again to Jacob on his arrival from Paddan-aram. God blessed him, saying to him,
“You whose name is Jacob,
You shall be called Jacob no more,
But Israel shall be your name.” Thus he was named Israel. And God said to him,
“I am El Shaddai.
Be fertile and increase;
A nation, yea an assembly of nations,
Shall descend from you.
Kings shall issue from your loins.
The land that I assigned to Abraham and Isaac
I assign to you;
And to your offspring to come
Will I assign the land.” God parted from him at the spot where [God] had spoken to him; and Jacob set up a pillar at the site where [God] had spoken to him, a pillar of stone, and he offered a libation on it and poured oil upon it. Jacob gave the site, where God had spoken to him, the name of Bethel. They set out from Bethel; but when they were still some distance short of Ephrath, Rachel was in childbirth, and she had hard labor.