Parasha Vayetze

par le Rav Raphaël Benizri

Parasha Vayetze (ויצא) — Bereshit 28:10 – 32:3. Read on Shabbat, November 21, 2026.

Summary of Parasha Vayetze

Yaakov leaves Beer Sheva for Haran. On the way, he stops for the night and dreams of a ladder set on the earth, its top reaching the heavens, with angels of G-d going up and down on it. G-d stands above him and promises him the land, numerous descendants and His protection. When he awakens, Yaakov names the place Beit El and makes a vow. Arriving at a well, he meets Rachel, daughter of Lavan, and rolls away the stone to water her sheep. He agrees to work seven years to marry Rachel, but Lavan first gives him Leah; Yaakov works seven more years for Rachel. Leah bears Reuven, Shimon, Levi and Yehudah. Rachel, being barren, gives him her maidservant Bilhah, who bears Dan and Naftali; Leah gives Zilpah, who bears Gad and Asher. Leah goes on to bear Yissachar, Zevulun and a daughter, Dinah. Then G-d remembers Rachel, who bears Yosef. Yaakov agrees with Lavan on wages paid in livestock and grows wealthy despite repeated changes to his terms. At G-d’s command, he sets out for Canaan with his family; Rachel takes her father’s teraphim. Lavan pursues him, but G-d warns him in a dream not to harm Yaakov. The two men make a covenant by a heap of stones. Yaakov continues on his way, and angels of G-d come to meet him.