Below is a collection of Parashat Vayetze resources created by The Lookstein Center staff or contributed to the site by Jewish educators.
This is a growing collection. Check back soon or write to us at content@lookstein.org if you didn’t find what you’re looking for. 

Return to Sefer Bereshit Resources
Parasha Points
  • On the way to Haran, Jacob dreams of a ladder linking heaven and earth. God promises to take care of Jacob on his journey and blesses Jacob with the Abrahamic blessing. In the morning, Jacob sets up a stone and declares that it will become a place of worship when he returns safely. He names the place Bet El (lit., God’s house).
  • Jacob arrives at Haran where he meets Rachel, his cousin. He rolls a huge stone off the well to provide water for her flocks, kisses her, and is welcomed into her father’s (Laban) home.
  • Jacob asks to marry Rachel in return for seven years of tending Laban’s flocks. Laban agrees, but on the wedding night, he switches Rachel with her older sister Leah. When Jacob discovers the deception he is told that they are not permitted to let the younger precede the elder, and Jacob agrees to work another seven years to marry Rachel.
  • The rivalry between the sisters leads to Jacob fathering eleven sons and a daughter is born to Jacob during the ensuing years, including children conceived by Rachel’s and Leah’s maidservants.
  • Jacob wants to leave, but Laban convinces him to stay. During those six years, Jacob becomes very wealthy tending Laban’s flocks after they strike a deal.
  • God encourages Jacob to go back home. While Laban is out shearing his sheep, Jacob – with his wealth, his wives, and his children – sneaks out and runs from Laban’s house. Laban gives chase, and after a confrontation in which Laban accuses Jacob of theft and Jacob defends himself, they agree to part ways.
Educational Themes
  • One who gains by deception needs to be wary of others doing the same.
  • Just as God keeps His promise, people should keep theirs. 
  • Be wary of dealings with dishonest people.
Notable Quotes
  • Jacob, upon awakening from his dream:
     מה נורא המקום הזה, אין זה כי אם בית אלקים וזה שער השמים
  • God’s message that Jacob return home:
    שוב אל ארץ אבותיך ולמולדתך ואהיה עמך
  • Laban’s closing accusation against Jacob:
     למה גנבת את אלקי
  • Part of Jacob’s response to Laban’s accusation:
    אנכי אחטנה מידי תבקשנה

DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION QUESTIONS

Question #1: How can one person impact a whole community? This week’s parasha opens by telling us that Jacob left Be’er Sheva and went to Haran. Isn’t it enough to write that he went to Haran? Rashi explains that this is to teach us that when a righteous person leaves a city, it makes an impression. When he is there, he adds so much, he is their glory; and when he leaves his absence is felt. Do you know of anyone who made a big difference in your community?

Look inside the text (Bereshit 28:10),

 וַיֵּצֵא יַעֲקֹב מִבְּאֵר שָׁבַע וַיֵּלֶךְ חָרָנָה – Jacob left Beer Sheba and set out for Haran.

Question #2:How can you respond to someone who is complaining and blaming you? What if they are complaining about something that YOU did? Would you feel sympathetic or angry? When Rachel saw that she had not born any children, she became envious of her sister; and Rachel said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die.” How do you feel about how Jacob reacted to Rachel in this situation?

 Look inside the text (Bereshit 30:2),

 וַיִּחַר אַף יַעֲקֹב בְּרָחֵל וַיֹּאמֶר הֲתַחַת אֱלֹהִים אָנֹכִי אֲשֶׁר מָנַע מִמֵּךְ פְּרִי בָטֶן – He answers in anger, “Am I in the place of God who has not enabled you to have children (or, in other words, it’s not my fault!)

Question #3: Jacob arrives in Haran and tells Laban “all those things” (Bereshit 29:13). It is possible that Jacob’s honesty ended up lowering his status in Laban’s eyes, which had all sorts of effects on their relationship. While honesty is obviously an important value, is it possible that too much honesty can be damaging? When is it appropriate to hold back critical information in certain relationships? How do we draw the line between what is appropriate to share and what is not?

Question #4: Jacob makes a deal with Laban regarding the white and the non-white sheep, after which he does some mysterious things with the mating of the sheep. While we don’t know the precise nature of what he did, whether it was through some kind of shepherd’s secret, magic, or selective breeding, Laban did not anticipate this and Jacob gains considerable wealth in a short period of time. When dealing with dishonest people, do we have an obligation to be straightforward or is it OK to engage in some form of deception to protect ourselves and “even the playing field?” Are there limits to the amount of deception that we can use or the extent of what we can gain from it? What kind of circumstances could justify that deception – potential financial loss or gain, political positioning, angling to get a job or landing a contract, personal safety, or national security?

 

LESSON PLANS AND ARTICLES

Vayetze Targilon – This sample parasha workbook for elementary school students includes lessons on vocabulary and questions on parasha content.