Q & A

Questions

1. When Yaakov traveled to Charan, the Torah stresses that he departed from Be’er Sheva. Why?
2. On the night of his dream, Yaakov did something he hadn’t done in 14 years. What?
3. G-d compressed the entire Land of Israel underneath the sleeping Yaakov. What did this symbolize?
4. Yaakov said “I will return with shalom.” What did he mean by “shalom”?
5. Why did Yaakov rebuke the shepherds?
6. Why did Rachel, and not her brothers, tend her father’s sheep?
7. Why did Yaakov cry when he met Rachel?
8. Why did Lavan run to greet Yaakov?
9. Why were Leah’s eyes tender?
10. How old was Yaakov when he married?
11. What did Rachel find enviable about Leah?
12. Who was Yaakov’s fifth son?
13. Who was Leah’s handmaiden? Was she older or younger than Rachel’s handmaiden?
14. How do you say dudaim in Arabic?
15. “G-d remembered Rachel” (30:22). What did He remember?
16. What does “Yosef” mean? Why was he named that?
17. G-d forbade Lavan to speak to Yaakov “neither of good nor of bad.” Why didn’t G-d want Lavan to speak of good?
18. Where are there two Aramaic words in this week’s parsha?
19. Who was Bilhah’s father? Who was Zilpah’s father?
20. Who escorted Yaakov into Eretz Yisrael?

Answers

All references are to the verses and Rashi’s commentary unless otherwise stated.

1. 28:10 - The departure of a righteous person leaves a noticeable void in that place.
2. 28:11 - Sleep at night lying down.
3. 28:13 - That the Land would be easy for his descendants to conquer.
4. 28:21 - Completely without sin.
5. 29:7 - He thought they were loafing, stopping work early in the day.
6. 30:27 - Her brothers weren’t born yet.
7. 29:11 - He saw prophetically that they would not be buried together; or because he was penniless (and had nothing to give in order to marry her).
8. 29:13 - He thought Yaakov was carrying money.
9. 29:17 - She cried continually because she thought she was destined to marry Esav.
10. 29:21 - Eighty-four.
11. 30:1 - Leah’s good deeds; Rachel thought they were the reason that Leah merited children.
12. 30:5 - Dan.
13. 30:10 - Zilpah. She was younger than Bilhah.
14. 30:14 - Jasmine (Yasmin).
15. 30:22 - That Rachel gave Leah the “signs of recognition” that Yaakov had taught her, so that Leah wouldn’t be embarrassed.
16. 30:24 – “Yosef ” means “He will add.” Rachel asked G-d for another son in addition to Yosef.
17. 31:24 - Because the “good” that comes from wicked people is bad for the righteous.
18. 31:41 - Yagar Sahaduta, meaning “wall of testimony.”
19. 31:50 - Lavan.
20. 32:1 - The angels of Eretz Yisrael.