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WARNING: DANGER AHEAD

This week’s Parsha, Vayeitzei, opens with Yaakov on his way to his mother’s brother, Uncle Lavan, to find for himself a wife and to build the seminal Jewish family. Uncle Lavan is a notorious swindler whose daughters are remark-ably virtuous. Along his way, Yaakov was robbed of everything that he had taken with him and was now penniless but full of hope and trust in HaKadosh baruch Hu. Yaakov turns to HaShem with the following deal. “If HaShem will be with me as I travel along this path and He will protect me and provide me with bread to eat and clothing to wear and return me to my father’s home… then HaShem will be Guide etc.”
It is noteworthy that in the Book of Bamidbar the Torah instructs the kohanim to bless the Jewish people with the following blessing. “HaShem shall bless you and protect you.”

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ONE IS HE IS ONE FOR ME

The Midrash in our Parsha shares the following story. As the shevatim surrounded Yaakov’s bed before his leaving this world, Yaakov wanted to reveal the time when they would reach their destiny; the coming of Moshiach. To appreciate the scene we must recognize that with Yaakov on his bed surrounded by the 12 shevatim he was carrying the Shechina, the Presence of HaShem, similar to the Mishkan surrounded by the 12 tribes in the desert. As he lay there with the Shechina on him, he intended to reveal the ultimate time of Moshiach. However, the moment before he was to reveal it, the Shechina suddenly left him.

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HEAVY PACK, NO SLEEP, GESHMAK!

Before our father Yaakov passes, he blesses his 12 sons, each one with their unique blessing that fits their destiny. To Yissocher he says “Yissocher is a large bone donkey (able to carry heavy loads) and rests between the boundaries (along the road with the loads on his back). And he sees that tranquility is good and lowers his shoulder to take on more burden.”