Vayeitzei
Parshas Vayeitzei - - In All Honesty
"If you never lie you never have to remember anything" - Mark Twain
"Truth is a heavy burden, therefore it's bearers are so few" - Mishlei
In this week's parsha we learn of the beginnings of the nation of Israel.
The Talmud tells us "All beginnings are difficult". This rings true as we
read of the life Yaakov avinu lead in the home of his uncle Lavan to whom he
fled at the behest of his mother to protect him from his murderous brother.
One of the biggest tests for Yaakov who personified truth was to live in the
house of Lavan who personified trickery and deceit. Lavan was constantly
changing the stipulations he had set down that would decide which portions
of the flocks Yaakov tended would belong to Yaakov. Lavan lied and put in
much calculated effort into doing so. The consummate example of the worst of
his trickery is shown when Lavan sent the veiled Leah under the chuppah
instead of Rochel for who's hand in marriage Yaakov had worked for seven
years.
The Talmud (Makos 24a) tells us of the truthfulness of Rav Safra. Rav Safra
owned a store. Once while he was saying "kriyas shema" a man entered the
store and, not noticing that Rav Safra was davening, offered a price to
purchase a certain item. Naturally Rav Safra didn't reply. Taking the
silence to mean that the offer was too low, the man upped his offer not once
but twice. After his prayer was done Rav Safra turned and told the surprised
man that the original offer would be accepted. Though he could have easily
made more money in the transaction, he answered honestly that he had in
mind to accept the first offer but he hadn't replied because he had been
praying.
If one is honest, one accepts reality as it is. That is the truth of
existence. If one does not accept reality and lives in denial, one can
easily become impatient for if the situation isn't as it should be then one
wants it to change, and fast. Yaakov showed the ultimate patience with his
uncle. He worked another seven years to earn the right to have married
Rochel as well. Patience has its' rewards. In Vayeitzei eleven of the twelve
of the tribes of Israel are born. They are Reuven, Shimon, Levi, Yehudah,
Yissachar, Zevulan, Dan, Naftali, Gad, Asher and Yosef. The birth of
Binyamin is mentioned in Parshas Vayishlach. The staying power accomplished
through the dedication to serving the Creator shown by the tribes and their
progeny were built on the beginning efforts of their father Yaakov. What so
we learn from this? Truth brings patience and then it brings *nachas.
*Enjoyment - Used most commonly to refer to the pleasure parents have from
their children and also when the Creator has nachas from the creation.
Good Shabbos!
This weeks Dvartorah should be a merit for a complete recovery for Reuvane Elya ben
Pesha.
Text Copyright © 2000 Rabbi Dovid Green and
Project Genesis, Inc.
