Yaakov Journeys to Haran

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1. Ya'akov's Last Bow - A Retrospective Look at the Life of our Patriarch

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

   Every significant move which he makes is motivated by two separate impetuses: a practical motive on one hand and a divine motive on the other. What distinguishes these two motivations?

2. "Mei-Hashem Yatza Ha-davar" Perceiving Providence

   Rabbi Reuven Taragin

   In the context of the story about Yaakov's escape from and return to Canaan, the Torah describes Yaakov's exile. This lesson highlights the links between the different stories in the interim. The links reveal the message of the entire story.

3. Yaakov's Ladder

   Rabbi Amnon Bazak

   When Yaakov departs for Haran, God appears to him in a dream and makes several promises. Yaakov is hesitant about the fulfillment of one of the promises, and makes a vow for reinforcement. Why was Yaakov unsure? How does the ladder in his dream relate to his fears?

4. The Vow and the Name Change

   Prof. Jonathan Grossman

   The fact that Yaakov's name was changed appears twice in the Torah. Why? What is the purpose of the repetition?

5. Three Different Blessings

   Rabbi Dr. Tamir Granot

   This shiur examines the three blessings that Yaakov receives: From Yitzhak when he impersonates Esav, from Yitzhak when he leaves for Haran, and from God in the ladder dream. What is the significance of each of these separate blessings?

   Through an examination of these blessings, we learn that they continue the blessings to Avraham, and particularly the two covenants: the Covenant Between the Parts, and the Covenant of Circumcision.  The general significance of this understanding is that the blessing and selection of Avraham are passed on in their entirety, with all their components, to Yaakov.  And each blessing relates to a different one of God's Names, since each Divine Name reflects a different aspect of Divine manifestation in the world.

6. "Give Truth to Yaakov"

   Rabbi Zeev Weitman

   The story of the birth of Yaakov and Esav, their upbringing, the stolen blessing, and Yaakov's departure to Haran can be seen as two separate narratives, attempting to grapple with the problematic theme of trickery and deceit.

   The synthesis of these two narratives entails drawing a distinction between the two blessings. There is the blessing of Avraham, which relates to the destiny of descendants and of the land, while the other blessing involves power and material abundance. The synthesis of these two stories also suggests that while on one hand, Yaakov and his descendants are chosen by God because of their special and unique merit, at the same time, there is also a Divine decision that has no apparent reason and does not arise from any inherent quality.

7. There and Back Again:The Exilic Journeys and Sojourns of Vayetze

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

   Parashat Vayetze is unique in that it consists of a single Masoretic parasha, i.e., one paragraph of 148 uninterrupted consecutive verses. Though Masoretic division of the parashiyot is based on sundry reasons, not all of which are always clear, it sometimes indicates a literary unity. It appears that this is the case with our parasha: Parashat Vayetze is all one long story. What is the significance of this? By dividing the narrative into two parts and exploring each section we can learn important lessons about Yaakov's life in Haran and his relationship with Lavan. 

8. Finding a Marriage Partner at the Well

   Rabbi David Silverberg

9. The Ladder and the Well - Yaakov's Journey to Haran

   Dr. Yonatan Feintuch | 53 minutes

   The book of Bereishit tells of Yaakov's journey to Haran. In chapters 27-28 we learn about the different motivations that drove Jacob to Haran, which may be regarded as two different aspects of the same journey. However, literary analysis of the chapters reveals a fascinating literary interplay between events that supposedly belong to separate aspects of the journey. This shiur compares and contrasts these aspects of Yaakov's journey and examines the interaction between them.  These chapters have a broad impact on the  way in which the Torah tries to paint the life, character and destiny of Yaakov.

10. Yaakov's Continued Idealism and Revelation

    Rabbi David Silverberg

11. Be'er Sheva and Hevron: Stability or Strife?

    Rabbi David Silverberg

12. Toldot: What Happened to the Prophecy about Yaakov?

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 22 minutes

    In this shiur, we ask: What happened? After the prophecy Rivka received about the struggle of her two sons, and the fight over the birthright, what is the bottom line? Who ends up with the birthright or ascendancy? We see from  the continuing stories that  it is a bit confusing, and very unclear. Yaakov appears to walk away with everything at first - but is that the case? He is forced to flee, and when he returns to Canaan he seemingly grovels to Esav and possibly even "returns" the bracha. We look at different approaches to the text and to the different turns of events, and we also examine different approaches to the nature of prophecy. Is prophecy as strong as our own choices?

13. Vayishlach: “I Am God Almighty” – How God Introduces Himself

    Rabbi Gad Eldad

    Yaakov was the first of the patriarchs to whom God introduces Himself immediately whenHe first speaks with him, as is customary among people. Why is it that the expected behavior becomes, in our case, the exception?  And why is it that the multiple times that God introduces Himself to Yaakov occur in the context of Yaakov's journeys?

    We will see that these two points are intertwined.