Parashas Vayeitzei

Last week we spoke about Eisav being furious with Yaakov for getting his brachos (blessings). After that episode, Rivka told Yaakov to run away because Eisav wanted to kill him. She instructed him to go to Lavan, her brother, who lived in Charan. There he would meet Rachel, his soul mate, the daughter of Lavan.

When Yaakov saw Rachel, he immediately fell in "love" with her, knowing she was the one he wanted to spend his whole life with. He told her the reason for him coming to Lavan. She warned him that Lavan was a swindler, and would try marrying off Leah first, before allowing him to marry Rachel. Yaakov wasn't worried. He instructed Rachel what to answer if he asked her different questions, a sign of knowing who was really under the veil. [1]

Lavan came out to greet Yaakov, who was known to come from a wealthy family. Lavan wasn't interested in him, he was interested in his money. To Yaakov's dismay, he arrived empty handed. He felt bad because when Eliezer (the slave of Avraham) had come to the house of Besuel (the father of Lavan) to find a marriage partner for Yitzchak, he came with camels loaded with gifts. Lavan thought, it can't be that Yaakov came empty handed. He is probably hiding some pearls in his mouth. He gave Yaakov a BIG kiss, hoping to find some type of jewelry, but his mouth was empty. [2]

Yaakov told Lavan the purpose of his arrival; to get married. Therefore, he is willing to work for him for seven years, in exchange for Rachel. Those years passed in a flash. When people have a goal, and are willing to do whatever they can for it, they have an inner enthusiasm. When a person does something with enthusiasm, and enjoys what they are doing, time flies. This seems to be what the Torah means by, "They seemed to him like a few days." [3]

When it was time to marry "Rachel", all the people of Charan were invited to the wedding. The next part was a big shocker. Definitely a lesson we can take, but not what I want to address in this week's dvar Torah. Rachel didn't want her sister to get embarrassed in front of the whole neighborhood, and so she gave over the signs to Leah, so that Yaakov will think it was really Rachel. That was an incredible sacrifice Rachel made. [4]

The next morning after finding out what Lavan had done to Yaakov, he approached Lavan asking, "I have worked for you honestly and respectfully to marry your daughter Rachel, why did you deceive me?" Lavan replied back, "It's not our custom to marry off the younger daughter before the older one, however, I am willing to give you Rachel for another seven years worth of work." Yaakov agreed. He worked for Lavan with the same enthusiasm as he did in the beginning. He started off strong and on-time, and followed with the same enthusiasm until the end, with no slacking off. His last years were performed with the same dedication and vigor as his first years. [5]

A lesson I want to share with you is; when people set goals for themselves, they should stick to it. Sometimes people think to themselves, "I can't believe I told my self I was going to finish this masechta (tractate) - it's so long!" or "I'm going to help my spouse every day cleaning, or cooking." At first they think it's an amazing idea, and they do it with enthusiasm. Unfortunately that fire they had to learn or help, dies down shortly, until it turns into little spark. They rationalize to themselves, "I had more time then, it was easier to work towards my goal, but now I have other important things to do." That can be true, but to what extent? Yaakov knew the concept of, "When there's a will, there's a way." He lived by it. His goal was to marry Rachel, and he was willing to work fourteen years for it. He didn't rationalize saying, "It's so hard working for a thief, always thinking what other way will I be deceived again." He didn't let anything stop him. He kept the flame going, refraining it from dying down into a spark, which would eventually be extinguished.


Have a wonderful Shabbos,

Nisso



[1] Magilla 13b
[2] Bereshis Rabba 70:13
[3] Bereshis 29:20
[4] Baba Basra 123
[5] Bereshis Rabba 70:18