One Torah for All -
at Beit Torah Jewish Congregation
Shabbat VaYeitzei 11/29/25 [a couple weddings plus in-law grief...]
commentary below for 5786, most recent at bottom of group of commentaries
Shabbat Shalom! How can we embrace this new cycle given the present uncertainties of the Middle East? Who is the serpent? At Beit Torah we will discuss these topics:
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Bereishit 5786, Back to the Beginning; Bereishit 1-6:8; Isaiah 42:5 – 43:10
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Bereishit – In the Beginning
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Much like stories other nations did tell:
Creation, gardens... we have one as well,
BUT ours praising G!d, no human heroes...
Breishit tells Ancestors' gains and zeroes!
Six epochs of time the Creation took.
After each one, HaShem took a good look.
Deciding that all what was seen was good…
For the seventh time frame: rest as one should…
Now in the sixth epoch, G!d and critters planned man
In their image with bodies’ needs and moral stands
To be the guard of ecological good stance
With all critters vegan until later, by chance,
Carnivores and omnivores arose in the lands…
Now, unlike critters, G!d gave breath of life to man…
Now man who was made, in a lush garden was placed.
Eden it was called, we’ve a location not traced.
To not be lonely, for him a helpmate was made
From his [stem cells?] body’s rib for a gal to grow:
Pluripotent cells make a female embryo...
The only rule: from the knowledge tree, must not eat!
Serpent was wily, enticed the gullible maid
To eat the fruit of the forbidden tree -
So when HaShem came a looking, what was to see?
Both children had eaten the fruit and were hid
As they knew they were naked and no longer kids…
[Did those children become computer literates?]
HaShem was wroth, a price was to be paid:
So the Serpent on belly crawled then on
And People were expelled from garden fronds…
Adam’s and Eve’s genealogy line:
Cain and Abel, their first two sons, they fought.
Cain killed Abel, then by HaShem was caught -
Now then other siblings were born in time,
Left to procreate inventive offspring
Which brother Seth and other sibs did bring
In Cain's line's through Lamech's children, their works;
Seth's through Noach, for whom danger lurks…
Mixed with Nephilim, half- E. T.’s,
The population grew less and less fine.
Cruelty, hatred, bigotry was seen;
Wickedness and perversions did abound -
But Hashem viewed Noach with favor found…
Haftorah in Sephardic tradition Isaiah 42:5-21:
Isaiah spoke before the Israelite Folk.
Sternly he told them with pride: the Creator of all
Has opened your eyes and rescued you when needed.
Creator's never shadowed by idols' pall
Whereas promised outcomes always held true to be
Ever as described. So Glory be! All should see
That Praise to G!d from all places must be repeated
By every creature in all corners of Earth;
Proclaim G!d's silent protection, for all their worth,
Keeping them from evil darkness, idolatry -
Helping the deaf to listen and the blind to see,
To understand HaShem's teaching all must embrace,
Glorify, magnify, light all corners, each place!
Challenge question: where are the Pishon and Gihon Rivers?
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Bereishit 5781; Recycling; Bereishit 1-6:8; Isaiah 42:5 - 43:10
Will Cain kill Abel once again
As history repeats itself?
Will Abel this time escape unscathed
Or will Cain prosper from Abel’s wealth?
It is as though life restarts anew
With every encroaching extinction.
The rich and the poor will all pass on.
Death will make ‘tween them no distinction.
Unless we can learn to work as one,
Our planet and lives will soon be done.
Will it be a deluge or massive fires?
We have no answers although we inquire…
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Shabbat Shalom! Can we avoid ever increasing chaos given our abuses of this planet's resources and each other? At Beit Torah we will discuss if and how we can do just that:
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Noach 5786 Chaos; Bereishit 6:9-11:32; usually Isaiah 54:1-10 [Sephard]
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Noach was quite kind, honest, and fair.
He had three sons for whom to take care,
Each son with a wife, plus Noach's wife,
Totalled eight souls to protect in life.
Still in a world so lawless and vile,
As flesh corrupted the earth meanwhile,
‘Twas hard to be cautious all the while…
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So HaShem chose to start once again
By bringing on a flood with much rain.
Yet before ‘twas done, Noach was told
A three deck ark to build with roof hatch
For Folk and critters and food to hold,
Including family and his catch
Of two couples each impure hoard
Of seven couples of those ones pure,
(Pure birds needed to keep seed alive,
Replenish all and the Land help thrive...)
And food enough to feed all aboard…
Then seven days later came rain tour
Continuous for forty long days…
For one hundred fifty full days more
Only water afar could be seen.
Then for forty days water recedes
Until Noach sent out a raven
That ate carrion but then came back
As did the dove sent also to look
For a place to roost along her track…
Seven more days once more dove sent out,
Returned with an olive leaf sprout!
Seven days more, dove sent out again
Not to return as rest spot was gained.
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Fifty-six days more, all left the ark.
Six hundred years old, no falter,
Noach built a sacrifice altar
In gratitude to HaShem and Hark!
HaShem promised him “never again”
With a covenant of no blood to eat,
No murder allowed, a Rainbow Brit!
So now the People can eat dead meat
But raw, live flesh is never a treat!
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Noach was farming vineyards and land.
In drunken sleep naked found by Ham.
His youngest son was rebuked quite hard…
Yet all in re-population starred
Ham [Canaan's, Sodom's, Gomorrah's Dad];
Japheth [Magog]; Shem [Elam, and more]
[Many more offspring whose names were bad
Or forgotten or lost evermore...]
Folk spread to islands, lands and cities,
Mountains, nomads, beaches, and high seas…
With all one language, arrogance came,
So they thought to build high to their fame
A tower on which would rest their name.
If left to succeed then thought HaShem:
Any goal they would have, they could do…
HaShem with others made speech garbled,
[Why?] Communications confounded…
The tower fell amidst the babble,
The dispersion of Folk compounded...
Shem’s line led to Nachor, then Terach,
Dad of Avram, Haran, and Nachor.
In Ur they lived until Haran died
[In the Elamite invading war?].
So Terach took Avram, Sarai, and Lot
Away West to Chauran where they stopped
Although en route to a Canaan spot.
Lot, son of Haran, was as a son
To “an exalted Dad”, Avram, won!
Together they’ll flee moon worship lands
For trips to Egypt and Canaan sands…
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my favorite: Noach’s Journey
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Afloat on a boat on waves unending -
How do forty days adrift passing feel?
A galley so large for to feed the crew
and varied critters to protect their weal…
Wind howling, G-d scowling with barf bags near…
Was there faith with trust – or perhaps just fear?
I think I would prefer a space ark rather than the sea
With cryogenic chambers of the critters yet to be.
Concentrated food and drink packs to feed those not asleep
As we all wait out the storms for the waters to recede…
Haftorah:
Isaiah saw Yisrael as barren
Yet with a promise for numbers to show,
Hence needing a larger tent for cover
Richly adorned with no disgrace to know:
Materialism instead of Mitzvot
Will cause the Nation to fail and not grow.
Isaiah told Yisrael to have trust,
That her numbers would grow to be greater
Than the nations yet to be dispossessed,
To be over-run by her then later,
Without embarrassment for her as loved
By HaShem who promised her no rebuke,
No more Mabuls – rather everlasting
Loyalty and friendship – Not just a fluke!
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Shabbat Shalom! What can we do with the upcoming elections? At Beit Torah we will discuss our views on how to go forward encouraging voters to vote:
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Lech Lecha 5786 On the Road; Bereishit 12:1-17:27; Isaiah 40:27-41:16
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As was the intent of Terach to go to Canaan,
So now Avram, Sarai, and Lot decide to move on.
With wealth gathered in earlier days, they left Chauran...
At seventy-five years old, Avram with stealth,
With strong encouragement from HaShem, he gathered wealth.
With HaShem’s promise of much offspring to take the Land,
They travelled bit by bit in Canaan, Negba south,
With famine following as they travelled on the sand
Until they had no choice but to go to Egypt’s house
Despite repeat promise of offspring lives in the Land...
Now Sarai was of such beauty, she knew she had to plot
A way to save Avram from Pharaoh’s lust, ever hot.
So with both together, a sister ploy plan was got!
A former Priestess would know how to taint water’s source
To make all in Harem infertile or ill, of course!
So with Sarai in harem, Pharaoh’s household, the lot,
Made ill … Per commenters, Lot revealed Sarai as wife!
So Pharaoh banished them with extra wealth and no strife…
The Negev was too crowded for both Avram’s and Lot’s
Considerable collected servants, wealth, and flocks.
So Lot: east to Zoar; Avram in Canaan did stay,
Praising HaShem in Hevron at an altar he prayed…
Being blessed again with many offspring, Promised Land
To be their forever home, by their numbers made grand.
Around where Lot settled there were five Kings in control.
Four other Kings invaded. All people and wealth they stole.
An escapee told Avram who with men rescued all,
Including Lot and his possessions, but took no gain…
Avram only asked that his men get their full booty share….
The Salem king blessed Avram for his courage and name -
In helping Amalekites’ and Amorites’ fall…
HaShem blessed Avram with Land and offspring twice again,
But warned of their long servitude in a foreign fare…
Sarai had no child. Hagar, her surrogate became.
Sarai was harsh with uppity Hagar who then fled
To be returned after promised her son’s future fame:
Ishmael, Father of twelve nations, the Holy said.
Avram with Sarai promised: parent many nations
If the covenant of circumcision they maintained,
To be parents of twelve Chieftains with Land to be claimed.
Hence Avram circumcised all his household, self, and son
So that male offspring with Sarai then still could be won
With Avraham's ninety-nine, he and Sarah just laughed.
Yitzchak would be their son's name. He'ld follow their craft.
So with their names new, just now changed: Sarah's and Avraham's
Lives were newly arranged to meet their future stations...
Haftorah:
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While crafts folk take great pride in their own work that excels,
It is nowhere near as perfect as HaShem's glories:
The One who strengthens the Faithful, shame oppressors well,
At times with long stories about how far down they fell...
So the lowly, imperfect of Israel should not fear
When all try to embrace mitzvot – with faith they don’t veer…
Even as young eagles grow new plumage as they age,
The Israelites will grow more trusting of HaShem’s sage.
To always help and redeem you, HaShem will be near.
Hence you'll rejoice as Glories of HaShem become clear.
The Young need learn to follow, embracing wisdom’s way
That Yisrael is blessed, their eyes no longer tear...
That Israel is chosen and should no longer fear
For HaShem helps the Chosen trusting G!d all their days…
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Shabbat Shalom! Beit Torah discuss Isaiah’s call for courage in the face of adversity:
VaYera 5786 Does it all really work out okay?; Bereishit 18:1-22:24; II Kings 4:1-37
Delirious, circumcised Avraham did rest
Near the terebinths of Mamre, some Hevron trees,
Seeing HaShem come to speak with him and him test:
Came three strangers to Avraham in the day’s heat,
Messengers from HaShem come for Bikur Cholim
And to tell of what was yet to come, it seems.
Now hospitality reigns over pains of brit
With water, bread, milk, curds, and roasted meat complete.
The strangers ate all, did not pretend to do so.
[Avraham would have noticed a fake. He would know.]
Plus milk served with meat did not violate a thing
Of not COOKING in it's Mother's milk her offspring!
Sarah would bear a son in a year it was said.
She heard and laughed in joy – at her age to be bred!
[Last week's read: Avraham reacted the same way.
He laughed to think he'd father Sarah's son some day!]
Now HaSem spoke directly with Sarah, you know,
When laugh denied that in her a babe would grow!
G!d scolded her that, indeed, such laugh she did show!
[Whom did G!d ask if with Avraham he should speak
On destroying Sodom and Gomorrah that week?
About checking out their reported evil ways?]
[Did a messenger telepathically speak,
A Bluetooth of sorts for remote words of HaShem
Who agonized over what to say to the choice
Of a man who would teach Divine Laws' and Rules' voice?
Or did all messengers have remote guiding folk
To discuss their clear warnings, the strong and the weak?]
Two messengers sent to see if Lot should not stay
Were met by vicious folk... Lot welcomed them at night,
Tried to appease the mob, was saved by blinding light...
[Was the third messenger really G!d in disguise?
One left for Abraham with HaShem to discuss
The innocents who by razing might lose their lives?]
Despite Blessings, Avraham had to learn the fuss:
Plains of Sodom and Gomorrah to be wiped out
‘Twas told. Avraham bargained with HaShem – so bold!
Yet ten righteous men in those plains weren’t found about.
So HaShem prevailed to destroy those plains, their holds,
With brimstone cremating Lot’s wife after they fled
With their two daughters to Zoar, messenger led…
Still Zoar was not quiet, might yet be destroyed…
Therefor Lot and his daughters were more than annoyed…
They went up the hills to a cave, food and wine stocked.
With no others near them, the girls feared they were locked
Into celibacy in a new world without men.
So they plied Lot with wine until pregnant with sons:
Moab and Ben-Ammi, who then later become
Moabites and Ammonites. For Folk, erstwhile friends.
In Gerar the sister-wife ploy was used once more.
Where Avraham claimed they are paternal sibs married;
So he would call her sister, he thought, when harried...
[Did Sarah herbal taint the water supply store?]
With an infertile household, Abimelech King
Heard from HaShem of the plot in a vivid dream.
He paid Avraham his household health to restore
Since the dream said A had Prophet magic galore!
[Prophet being a spokesman of divine calling
So he'd teach others with no stumble nor falling!]
Sarah bore her son, Yitzchak, in less than a year -
With an eighth day Brit and upon weaning, feast…
Ishmael could inherit, not her son, she feared.
So she expelled him and his mom - yet not deceased...
Then to stop inheritance rights, Hagar was freed
While promised many nations her son would lead!
Avraham, Abimelech got along indeed.
So when there was a well dispute’s settlement need,
King Abimelech said Avraham dug that well
After a seven ewe gift the King did receive
To prove Avraham really did dig that well.
So a marker was planted, a tamarisk tree…
Now perhaps most perplexing during Yitzchak’s youth
Was Avraham’s taking him and wood up to pray
On a mountain with an altar but no goose,
Saying to servants they both would return post prayer,
Yet at that time, son Yitzchak’s return was not there!
Was Yitzchak rebellious? To be shown the way,
Avraham bound him on altar as if to say
Our HaShem will save you yet on this very day!
Lo! A ram tangled or tied in brambles was seen
[Had Avraham had it placed there, tied at the scene?],
Then ‘twas used for sacrifice. Yitzchak got off clean
With respect for HaShem reinforced in his mind,
Yitzchak, in shock, left alone, his own path to find…
Some say he fled to his great by five Grandpa's home,
A school for the Noahide ethics to receive
For comfort and study, his lost youth to bemoan...
Some say that when Avraham stayed his hand that day.
He heeded HaShem and his son, Yitzchak, did not slay.
HaShem spoke to him and promised offsprings’ rewards:
They’ld seize foes’ gates, be honored by all nations’ stands
If they would follow HaShem’s path and stayed their hands…
Lastly the family line of Nahor is told
Listing Rifka and other cousins in the fold…
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Haftorah:
To Elisha, a widow her woes cried out:
In debt; destitute; facing slavery too…
So he said: gather vessels from all about
Which he caused to be filled with oil, brand new,
‘Til there was enough for all debts to be paid
And to live comfortably all of their days…
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A Shunnamite gave Elisha a place to rest
And a room while bemoaning not having a son.
As promised by Elisha, next year she bore one
Who as a child did play in the hot fields and yet
Was stricken with heat exhaustion and seemed quite dead.
The Shunnamite hurried to Elisha in deep grief.
He quickly returned with her for the child to tend,
Reviving him mouth-to-mouth, body warmth to mend…
The child sneezed seven times to his mother’s relief!
Notes: 1- When Lot split from Avraham it was said he went towards Zoar however in this Parasha is when Zoar got its name!!!
2- As per earlier in Torah: The Dead Sea was formed [during the destruction of the Plains of Sodom and Gomorrah] from the Valley of Sidim.
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Shabbat Shalom! Which leaders can we trust to keep us safe? At Beit Torah we will discuss the challenges in HaAretz and here in the USA:
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Chayei Sarah 5785 Leadership; Bereishit 23:1-25:18; I Kings 1:1-31
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As Celebration of Life, Sarah's life is reviewed
Through her sons' lives and Yitzchak's inheritance renewed...
Now Sarah lived for one hundred twenty-seven years;
Died in Hevron. Yitzchak thirty-seven then would be,
A son with his own path; Ishmael about fifty:
Good life near Egypt another eighty-seven years…
So alone, Avraham, then bought a burial site
Near where he had settled, from a neighboring Hittite.
Mutual neighbor's respect was in buying the land -
A fair price paid! Do 'settlers' now take such a stand?
His Chief Servant a wife for Yitzchak would find, he swore,
From Cousins in the northeastern city of Nahor
Where two rivers meet near Avraham’s birthplace, near Ur...
(Since it's been 50 years since Eliezer was named,
We are not too sure if this Chief Servant is the same...)
Only to bring her back after bride price paid and more:
Gifts for the drooling family after she agreed.
So with ten camels laden with wealth he went to seek
A fair maiden who would care for himself and his beasts,
With water and sheltering at her family home -
(Who gladly would leave her brother and his deep set greed.)
But only post helping town gals water flocks right...
He returned Negba, with Rifka and nanny in tow:
Also, on camels came her attending maids, you know:
Yitzchak praying in sheep breeders' fields, baring his soul!
Grieving Mom! Love at first sight! Rifka would fill his nights!
Avraham was lonely, too. Wife Keturah he took
[Had she been his loved concubine for years at least?]
She bore six sons who with gifts went East
Towards Northern Arabia, Aramenian land.
So then inheriting all was his beloved Yitzchak
Who with brother Ishmael buried in fashion grand
Their Father with Mother Sarah when he aged and died
After a long life at one hundred seventy-five…
The parasha end with Ishmael's lineage list -
Recalls Lech Lecha promise: Canaan's to offspring gift,
ALL Canaan to ALL "offspring to come" - none nixed!
Haftorah:
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Old King David kept warm by Abishag virgin
Was a bit out of it on matters of the days.
So second son Adonijah, spoiled, claimed the throne.
His narcissist ego would not leave him alone...
Most folk did not support him nor his corrupt ways
Which threatened to murder all those who opposed him.
Hence the Prophet Nathan told Bat-Sheva all what to say
To David: ‘You promised Solomon to be King one day!’
Nathan on cue entered to warn of Adonijah’s scare,
So King David then declared Solomon to be his heir!
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Shabbat Shalom! Does cultural assimilation always occur? To what extent? At Beit Torah we will discuss how to stay 'Jewish' in foreign cultures:
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Toldot 5786, To be a Hurrite; Bereishit 25:19-28:9; Malachi 1:1-2:7
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Yitzchak grieved a full three years before Rivka came on the scene.
For many years more he begged of HaShem to give him offspring…
Twins took hold in Rivka’s womb. She asked HaShem to stop their fight.
HaShem promised her two mighty nations they would grow to be
With older serving the younger, in a future she would see.
Red Esau came first, then Yaacov holding his heel most tightly:
Red outdoor hunter for Dad’s palette with meat spiced just rightly;
Pensive Mama’s boy home-body, learning from all in his sight.
For Yaacov’s stew, under oath, hungry Esau sold his birthright…
Famine made Gerar, Philistia, a welcome place to go
After HaShem told to Yitzchak that Egypt going is no way
To keep the Land promised, that he and his wife needed to stay!
Yitzchak did fear. So they tried another sister-wife show.
Yet Avimelech was wise to them, but understood fearful thoughts.
So he told all his countrymen: as to Yitzchak, keep your hands off!
Then Yitzchak settled near Gerar gaining herds and many folk,
But some Philistines were jealous and Avraham’s wells clogged up.
Avimelech was concerned, told Yitzchak it was no joke,
That he needed to leave town before skirmishes would erupt.
So to Wadi Gerar he moved, but was chased from two wells more
[Esek and Sitnah] until the third, Rehovot, was good score!
Yitzchak’s men dug a seventh well. Avimelech came to meet...
Along with his entourage, he sued for a sworn peace Pact Brit!
The well (Beer), called Sheva, gave water. Beer-Sheva the place was named.
[Note: Yitzchak's said gone to Beer Sheva before Sheva well dug through!]
This place was where HaShem to Yitzchak Avraham's Brit renewed too!
Yehudit and Basmat, Hittite wives of Esau, were his shame…
With Yitzchak’s eyes failing, he asked Esau to hunt, cook some game
To be blessed, Yaacov went in his stead, … Rivka's plan, staged
With Esau’s clothes, kid skin arms, savory goat favorite stew…
Yaacov was blessed with all brothers as servants the Hurrite way…
Although Esau was blessed that the yoke to serve would go away,
Esau swore to kill his brother once his Father died. Enraged,
He caused his Mom fear. She sent Yaacov to Bro Laban to stay
With - [Laban, Bethuel the Aramean's son] when he fled,
But told Yitzchak it was for him to find cousin wives to woo -
At age forty with twenty years more or so 'fore returning, too.
Esau, to please them, took Ishmael’s child, Machalot, to wed.
Malachi Haftorah:
It seems HaShem did prefer Yaacov’s over Esau’s ways:
Arrogant Edom thought it's easy to rebuild after ruins...
Unlike his bro, he'd not honored HaShem, so such plans were doomed!
Our “Father” was to be given reverence throughout all days.
So why's Jacob scorned? Altars defiled? Priests and Folk cursed who stray?
When such honor not given, calamities will come their way!
Still the Levite Brit stands if they follow truth, lead none astray...
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Shabbat Shalom! At Beit Torah we will discuss how families get dispersed:
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Vayetzei 5786 In-laws; Bereishit 28:10-32:3;
Hosea 11:7-12:12 [Sephard]; 12:13-14:10 [Ashkenaz]
On the way to Laban in Charan, Yaacov had a dream
About a passage up to HaShem, traffic going both ways.
Therein HaShem again promised land and numerous offspring,
Spread across many nations to be returned to the Land,
As promised before to Avraham and Yitzchak in their days -
Including saying that all other nations will bless their stand…
Yaacov bargained that if he returned home safely indeed,
He would embrace HaShem who there dwelt at Beth-El… thus vowed he
That known before as Luz, this place a most Holy site must be!
Now in this place, Yaacov promised Hashem tithes
If he’ld travel and return home hale and alive…
But for what and to whom would this payment be made?
Or was this a bribe because Yaacov was afraid?
Continuing eastward, Yaacov found folk near a well who
Pointed to Cousin Rachel and all her flock – and Laban knew…
So Yaacov moved the well stone and watered so her’s could share...
Then they went home to be welcomed by Laban: his sister’s son!
To his home and for his daughters – a potential groom had come!
With deceit he charged fourteen years labor for both daughters fare…
As a first step he gave Yaacov, Leah in disguise to bed.
[Less pretty Leah of bulging cow eyes, Grave’s disease stare...]
For seven years more labor, he gave Rachel also to wed.
The sisters, now wives, fought to have more offspring than each other.
They counted their maids' kids as their own, surrogates made mothers...
With twelve children in tow, Yaacov wanted to go on home
But Laban convinced him to stay.
For six more years of labor with speckled, spotted, dark, and roan
Goats and sheep given as his pay.
Laban gave him a flock to tend with none of these color tones.
Yet Yaacov bred many claiming HaShem said to use rods
Carved with desired patterns to gain
Some speckled, spotted, dark studs for breeding colors of the same…
A good story for the soo ignorant Laban and his sons…
Facts say Yaacov’s careful observations likely were done.
Laban’s sons were jealous. For Yaacov ‘twas time to go home.
So while Laban was out shearing, on camels with flocks they flee…
On third day Laban chased – a week to overtake them it took
And to accuse them of sneaking away with an idol crook…
Yaacov trusted that there was nothing amiss to be seen.
He let Laban search, naive to realities of deceit…
Not so with Rachel who understood well her Father:
To restrain violence he surely would not bother.
She knew she needed to interrupt his decisions
By removing his counselors, idols of visions...
So that claims to property and children became moot;
So that in local court he could never win a suit.
Thus Jacob, Leah, Rachel showed family unity
With fourteen plus years resisting Laban’s impunities.
Still discord and fear of Father Laban, his offspring,
Who were ready to fight for all flocks, lands, and well springs -
Until a treaty was agreed to amid a feast,
With boundary markers set and servitude released!
Pillar and stone mound: vows to each one's 'god' sealed the same…
To Avraham’s G!d, Yitzchak’s Fear, a pillar was made.
So, from the Akeida’s flame, Yitzchak’s terror did stay?
Would Laban have agreed to such a complete defeat
Had HaShem not warned him to desist while in a dream?
So that place was called Gal-ed, later, Mitzpah’s the name…
Then HaShem’s folk met Yaacov near the Canaan border.
Had they protected him during his twenty years stay?
Yet now that he is going home, are they going away?
There named Mahanaim, recalling his return’s fame…
Sephardic Haftorah:
To give up on the unfaithful Folk, HaShem refused.
So the lands of Ephraim and Judah were beseeched
Repeatedly: return to HaShem, no Laws abused,
To avoid dishonesties, idolatries eschewed
Until forgiveness, repentance, and returns are reached…
The Ashkenazi version ends on a more positive note:
Forgiveness, repentance and returns will be achieved.
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