פָּרָשַׁת וַיֵּצֵא

Parshat Vayeitzei tells us about Yaakov's twenty years away from home. On his way to Charan he sleeps at Beit El and dreams of a ladder reaching to heaven with angels going up and down; Hashem promises him the land, countless descendants, and His protection until he returns. Yaakov vows that Hashem will be his G-d and that he will give a tenth of all he receives. At the well near Charan he meets Rachel, rolls the stone off the well for her, and comes to her father Lavan. He works seven years for Rachel, is given Leah instead on the wedding night, and works another seven years for Rachel, whom he loves more.

Leah bears Reuven, Shimon, Levi and Yehudah; the maidservants Bilhah and Zilpah bear Dan, Naftali, Gad and Asher; Leah bears Yissachar, Zevulun and Dinah; and at last Hashem remembers Rachel, who bears Yosef. Yaakov agrees to stay for the speckled and spotted sheep as his wages, and Hashem makes him very wealthy despite Lavan's changing his wages ten times. When Lavan's sons grow resentful, Hashem tells Yaakov to go home. He leaves secretly with his wives, children and flocks; Rachel takes her father's terafim. Lavan pursues him, is warned by Hashem in a dream, searches the tents and finds nothing, and Yaakov answers him with twenty years of grievance. The two make a covenant at Gal-Ed and part, and angels of G-d meet Yaakov as he returns to the land. Yaakov left with nothing but his staff and returns with a family of twelve children and great wealth, as Hashem promised at Beit El.