Parsha Vayetzei – Chapter 30 – Verse 1 - 2
Chanukah
Parsha Vayetzei – Chapter 30 – Verse 1
In this verse it says that Rachel was jealous of Leah, but how could the righteous Rachel be jealous? Rashi says clearly, she was jealous of her good deeds. Rachels said to herself it is only because Leah is more righteous of me, that I am not worthy of children. I am not on such a high level; therefore, I don’t have any children.
Parsha Vayeitzei Chapter 29 - Verse 35
Leah stopped having children, because she stopped asking Hashem for more. She stopped asking, so she stopped getting. This is a tremendous lesson for us when it comes to prayer. Life is made up of asking and thanking. We should not do one without the other. We are called thankful people, Yehudim, because we thank.
Parsha Vayeitzei Chapter 29 - Verse 32 - 34
Leah does a chesbon (an accounting). She knew that there would be 12 tribes/ 12 sons. She knew that Yaakov would have 4 wives & they would have 3 sons each. However, Leah did conceive 5 sons, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, and Zebulun. Then she had a 6th son and then stopped. The Angel Gabriel took him up to Hashem and He named him Yehuda. In giving birth to Yehuda she got more than her share. She was overcome with gratitude. Jews are called Yehudim because our essence is to thank. Life is a gift and whatever we get it a gift.