Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, Yaakov Avinu leaves Be'er Sheva to travel to Charan, fleeing from Esav and heading toward the house of Lavan. On his way, he encounters Mount Moriah as the sun suddenly sets, and he prepares to sleep for the night, surrounding his head with stones for protection.

While sleeping, Yaakov sees the famous dream of the ladder standing on the earth with its top reaching Hashem's Heaven, and angels going up and down. Hashem appears to him, promising to protect him on his journey, to give the land to his children, and to bring him back safely to his father's house.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

וַיֵּצֵאAnd went outיַעֲקֹבYaakovמִבְּאֵרfrom Be'erשָׁבַעShevaוַיֵּלֶךְand wentחָרָנָה׃toward Charan

רַשִׁ״י

ויצאAnd Jacob went outיעקב.Jacobעַלonיְדֵיaccountשֶׁבִּשְׁבִילthat becauseשֶׁרָעוֹתthat evilבְּנוֹתdaughters ofכְּנַעַןCanaanבְּעֵינֵיin the eyes ofיִצְחָקYitzchakאָבִיוhis fatherהָלַךְwentעֵשָׂוEsavאֶלtoיִשְׁמָעֵאל,Yishmaelהִפְסִיקit interruptedהָעִנְיָןthe matterבְּפָרָשָׁתוֹin the portionשֶׁלofיַעֲקֹב,Yaakovוּכְתִיבand it wroteוַיַּרְאand Esav sawעֵשָׂוEsavכִּיthatבֵרַךְhe blessedוְגוֹ',etc.וּמִשֶּׁגָּמַרand when it finishedחָזַרit returnedלָעִנְיָןto the matterהָרִאשׁוֹן:the first

רַשִׁ״י

ויצא.And he went outלֹאnotהָיָהwasצָרִיךְnecessaryלִכְתֹּבto writeאֶלָּאexceptוַיֵּלֶךְand wentיַעֲקֹבYaakovחָרָנָה,to Haranוְלָמָּהand whyהִזְכִּירdid it mentionיְצִיאָתוֹ?his departureאֶלָּאratherמַגִּידit tellsשֶׁיְּצִיאַתthat departure ofצַדִּיקa tzaddikמִןfromהַמָּקוֹםthe placeעוֹשָׂהmakesרֹשֶׁם,an impressionשֶׁבִּזְמַןthat in timeשֶׁהַצַּדִּיקthat the tzaddikבָּעִיר,is in the cityהוּאhe isהוֹדָהּits gloryהוּאhe isזִיוָהּits splendorהוּאhe isהֲדָרָהּ;its beautyיָצָאhe departedמִשָּׁם,from thereפָּנָהdepartedהוֹדָהּits gloryפָּנָהdepartedזִיוָהּits splendorפָּנָהdepartedהֲדָרָהּ.its beautyוְכֵןand likewiseוַתֵּצֵאAnd she went outמִןfromהַמָּקוֹםthe placeהָאָמוּרwhich is statedבְּנָעֳמִיregarding Naomiוְרוּתand RuthרותRuthא'1:

רַשִׁ״י

וילךAnd he wentחרנה.Haranward:יָצָאhe went outלָלֶכֶתto goלְחָרָן:to Haran

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

וַיִּפְגַּעAnd he encounteredבַּמָּקוֹםat the placeוַיָּלֶןand he lodgedשָׁםthereכִּיbecauseבָאhad setהַשֶּׁמֶשׁthe sunוַיִּקַּחand he tookמֵאַבְנֵיfrom the stones ofהַמָּקוֹםthe placeוַיָּשֶׂםand he placedמְרַאֲשֹׁתָיוaround his headוַיִּשְׁכַּבand he lay downבַּמָּקוֹםin the placeהַהוּא׃that

רַשִׁ״י

ויפגעAnd he encounteredבמקום.in the placeלֹאnotהִזְכִּירmentionedהַכָּתוּבthe verseבְּאֵיזֶהin whichמָקוֹםplaceאֶלָּאbutבַּמָּקוֹםin the place–הַנִּזְכָּרmentionedבְּמָקוֹםin a placeאַחֵר,otherהוּאit isהַרMountהַמּוֹרִיָּה,Moriahשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidבּוֹof itוַיַּרְאand he sawאֶת—הַמָּקוֹםthe placeמֵרָחֹק:from afar

רַשִׁ״י

ויפגע.And he encounteredכְּמוֹlikeוּפָגַעand it reachedבִּירִיחוֹat Yerichoוּפָגַעand it reachedבְּדַבָּשֶׁתto DabbashethיהושעYehoshuaט"ז16וי"טand 19וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּand our Rabbisפֵּרְשׁוּexplainedלְשׁוֹןan expression ofתְּפִלָּהprayerברכותBerachosכ"ו26,כְּמוֹlikeוְאַלand do notתִּפְגַּעentreatבִּיMeירמיהוYirmeyahuז'7,וְלָמַדְנוּand we learnedשֶׁתִּקֵּןthat he institutedתְּפִלַּתthe prayer ofעַרְבִית.Eveningוְשִׁנָּהand alteredהַכָּתוּבthe Scriptureוְלֹאand did notכָּתַבwriteוַיִּתְפַּלֵּל,and he prayedלְלַמֶּדְךָto teach youשֶׁקָּפְצָהthat leapedלוֹfor himהָאָרֶץ,the earthכְּמוֹlikeשֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁthat is explainedבְּפֶרֶקin the chapter ofגִּידGidהַנָּשֶׁהHaNashehחוליןChullinצ"א91:

רַשִׁ״י

כיforבאcameהשמש.the sunהָיָהit wasלוֹfor itלִכְתֹּבto writeוַיָּבֹאand cameהַשֶּׁמֶשׁthe sunוַיָּלֶןand he lodgedשָׁם,thereכִּיforבָאcameהַשֶּׁמֶשׁthe sunמַשְׁמַעit impliesשֶׁשָּׁקְעָהthat setלוֹfor himחַמָּהthe sunפִּתְאוֹם,suddenlyשֶׁלֹּאthat notבְּעוֹנָתָהּ,in its timeכְּדֵיin orderשֶׁיָּלִיןthat he lodgeשָׁם:there

רַשִׁ״י

וישםand he placedמראשותיו.for his head-resting-placeעֲשָׂאָןhe made themכְּמִיןlike a type ofמַרְזֵבgutterסָבִיבaroundלְרֹאשׁוֹ,for his headשֶׁיָּרֵאfor he fearedמִפְּנֵיbecause ofחַיּוֹתbeastsרָעוֹת;evilהִתְחִילוּthey beganמְרִיבוֹתquarrelingזוֹthis oneאֶת—זוֹ,with this oneזֹאתthis oneאוֹמֶרֶתsaysעָלַיupon meיָנִיחַshall restצַדִּיקa tzaddikאֶת—רֹאשׁוֹhis headוְזֹאתand this oneאוֹמֶרֶתsaysעָלַיupon meיָנִיחַ;shall he restמִיָּדimmediatelyעֲשָׂאָןmade themהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One Blessedאֶבֶןstoneאַחַת,oneוְזֶהוּand this isשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרthat is saidוַיִּקַּחand he tookאֶת—הָאֶבֶןthe stoneאֲשֶׁרwhichשָׂםhe had placedמְרַאֲשֹׁתָיו:for his head-resting-place

רַשִׁ״י

וישכבand he layבמקוםin the placeההוא.thatלְשׁוֹןan expression ofמִעוּט;limitationבְּאוֹתוֹin thatמָקוֹםplaceשָׁכַבhe layאֲבָלbutי"דfourteenשָׁנִיםyearsשֶׁשִּׁמֵּשׁthat he servedבְּבֵיתin the house ofעֵבֶרEverלֹאhe did notשָׁכַבlie downבַּלַּיְלָה,at nightשֶׁהָיָהfor he wasעוֹסֵקengagedבַּתּוֹרָה:in the Torah

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

וַיַּחֲלֹםAnd he dreamedוְהִנֵּהand beholdסֻלָּםa ladderמֻצָּבwas setאַרְצָהearthwardוְרֹאשׁוֹand its topמַגִּיעַreachedהַשָּׁמָיְמָהheavenwardוְהִנֵּהand beholdמַלְאֲכֵיangels ofאֱלֹהִיםGodעֹלִיםwere ascendingוְיֹרְדִיםand descendingבּוֹ׃on it

רַשִׁ״י

עוליםAscendingוירדים.and descendingעוֹלִיםAscendingתְּחִלָּהfirstוְאַחַרand afterכָּךְthatיוֹרְדִים?descendingמַלְאָכִיםangelsשֶׁלִּוּוּהוּthat escorted himבָּאָרֶץin the Landאֵיןdo notיוֹצְאִיםgo outחוּצָהoutsideלָאָרֶץ,the Landוְעָלוּand ascendedלָרָקִיעַto the firmamentוְיָרְדוּand descendedמַלְאֲכֵיangels ofחוּצָהoutsideלָאָרֶץthe Landלְלַוּוֹתוֹ:to escort him

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

וְהִנֵּהand beholdיְהוָהHashemנִצָּבwas standingעָלָיוover himוַיֹּאמַרand He saidאֲנִיI amיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֵיGod ofאַבְרָהָםAvrahamאָבִיךָyour fatherוֵאלֹהֵיand God ofיִצְחָקYitzchakהָאָרֶץthe landאֲשֶׁרupon whichאַתָּהyouשֹׁכֵבare lyingעָלֶיהָupon itלְךָto youאֶתְּנֶנָּהI will give itוּלְזַרְעֶךָ׃and to your offspring

רַשִׁ״י

נצבstoodעליו.above himלְשָׁמְרוֹ:to guard him

רַשִׁ״י

ואלהיAnd the God ofיצחק.Yitzchakאַעַ"פִּeven thoughשֶׁלֹּאthat notמָצִינוּwe have foundבַּמִּקְרָאin Scriptureשֶׁיִּחֵדthat He associatesהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One Blessed be HeשְׁמוֹHis Nameעַלuponהַצַּדִּיקִיםthe righteousבְּחַיֵּיהֶםin their lifetimeלִכְתֹּבto writeאֱלֹהֵיthe God ofפְּלוֹנִי,so-and-soמִשּׁוּםbecauseשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרthat it is saidהֵןbeholdבִּקְדֹשָׁוin His holy onesלֹאnotיַאֲמִיןHe puts trustאיובIyovט"ו15,כָּאןhereיִחֵדHe associatedשְׁמוֹHis Nameעַלuponיִצְחָק,Yitzchakלְפִיbecauseשֶׁכָּהוּthat became dimעֵינָיוhis eyesוְכָלוּאand confinedבַבַּיִת,in the houseוַהֲרֵיand beholdהוּאhe isכְמֵתlike deadוְיֵצֶרand inclination ofהָרָעthe evilפָּסַקceasedמִמֶּנּוּ,from himתַּנְחוּמָא:Tanchuma

רַשִׁ״י

שכבliesעליה.upon itקִפֵּלfoldedהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One blessed be Heכָּלall ofאֶרֶץthe land ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelתַּחְתָּיו,underneath himרָמַזHe hintedלוֹto himשֶׁתְּהֵאthat it will beנוֹחָהeasyלִכָּבֵשׁto be conqueredלְבָנָיוby his childrenכְּד'like fourאַמּוֹתcubitsשֶׁזֶּהfor this isמְקוֹמוֹthe spaceשֶׁלofאָדָםa personחוליןChullinשםthere:

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

וְהָיָהAnd shall beזַרְעֲךָyour offspringכַּעֲפַרlike the dust ofהָאָרֶץthe earthוּפָרַצְתָּand you shall burst forthיָמָּהwestwardוָקֵדְמָהand eastwardוְצָפֹנָהand northwardוָנֶגְבָּהand southwardוְנִבְרֲכוּand shall be blessedבְךָthrough youכָּלallמִשְׁפְּחֹתthe families ofהָאֲדָמָהthe groundוּבְזַרְעֶךָ׃and through your offspring

רַשִׁ״י

ופרצת.and you shall breachוְחָזַקְתָּ,and become strongכְּמוֹlikeוְכֵןand soיִפְרֹץ:they became strong

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

וְהִנֵּהand beholdאָנֹכִיI amעִמָּךְwith youוּשְׁמַרְתִּיךָand I will guard youבְּכֹלwhereverאֲשֶׁרthatתֵּלֵךְyou goוַהֲשִׁבֹתִיךָand I will return youאֶלtoהָאֲדָמָהthe landהַזֹּאתthisכִּיforלֹאI will notאֶעֱזָבְךָforsake youעַדuntilאֲשֶׁרthatאִם·עָשִׂיתִיI have doneאֵת—אֲשֶׁרthat whichדִּבַּרְתִּיI have spokenלָךְ׃to you

רַשִׁ״י

אנכיIעמך.am with youלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהָיָהthat he wasיָרֵאafraidמֵעֵשָׂוof Eisavוּמִלָּבָן:and from Lavan

רַשִׁ״י

עדUntilאשרthatאםI haveעשיתי.doneאִםIfמְשַׁמֵּשׁservesבִּלְשׁוֹןin the sense ofכִּיbecauseגיטיןGittinצ'90a:

רַשִׁ״י

דברתיI spokeלך.concerning youלְצָרְכְּךָfor your benefitוְעָלֶיךָ;and concerning youמַהwhatשֶּׁהִבְטַחְתִּיthat I promisedלְאַבְרָהָםto Avrahamעַלregardingזַרְעוֹ,his offspringלְךָconcerning youהִבְטַחְתִּיוI promised itוְלֹאand notלְעֵשָׂו,concerning Esavשֶׁלֹּאfor notאָמַרְתִּיdid I sayלוֹto himכִּיthatיִצְחָקYitzchakיִקָּרֵאshall be calledלְךָyourזָרַעoffspringאֶלָּאbutכִּיforבְיִצְחָק,in Yitzchakוְלֹאand notכָּלallיִצְחָק,of Yitzchakוְכֵןand soכָּלeveryלִיto meוּלְךָand to youוְלוֹand to himוְלָהֶםand to themהַסְּמוּכִיםthat are attachedאֵצֶלnext toדִּבּוּרspeakingמְשַׁמְּשִׁיםserve asלְשוֹןa meaning ofעַל,concerningוְזֶהand thisיוֹכִיחַ,provesשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdעִםwithיַעֲקֹבYaakovלֹאHe did notדִבֵּרspeakקֹדֶםbeforeלָכֵן:this

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

וַיִּיקַץAnd awokeיַעֲקֹבYaakovמִשְּׁנָתוֹfrom his sleepוַיֹּאמֶרand saidאָכֵןSurelyיֵשׁthere isיְהוָהHashemבַּמָּקוֹםin the placeהַזֶּהthisוְאָנֹכִיand Iלֹאdid notיָדָעְתִּי׃know

רַשִׁ״י

ואנכיand Iלאdid notידעתי.knowשֶׁאִםfor ifיָדַעְתִּי,I had knownלֹאI would notיָשַׁנְתִּיhave sleptבְּמָקוֹםin a placeקָדוֹשׁholyכָּזֶה:like this

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

וַיִּירָאAnd he was afraidוַיֹּאמַרand he saidמַהHowנּוֹרָאawesome isהַמָּקוֹםthe placeהַזֶּהthisאֵיןThere is noזֶהthisכִּיotherאִםthanבֵּיתthe house ofאֱלֹהִיםGodוְזֶהand this isשַׁעַרthe gate ofהַשָּׁמָיִם׃the heavens

רַשִׁ״י

כיforאםifביתhouse ofאלהים.Godאָ"רַsaid RabbiאֶלְעָזָרEleazarבְּשֵׁםin the name ofרַבִּיRabbiיוֹסֵיYoseבֶּןson ofזִמְרָא,Zimraהַסֻּלָּםthe ladderהַזֶּהthisעוֹמֵדstoodבִּבְאֵרin Be'erשֶׁבַעShevaוְאֶמְצַעand the middle ofשִׁפּוּעוֹits slopeמַגִּיעַreachedכְּנֶגֶדoppositeבֵּיתthe House ofהַמִּקְדָשׁ,the Templeשֶׁבְּאֵרfor Be'erשֶׁבַעShevaעוֹמֵדstoodבִּדְרוֹמָהּin the southשֶׁלofיְהוּדָה,Yehudahוִירוּשָׁלַיִםand Yerushalayimבִּצְפוֹנָהּ,in its northבַּגְּבוּלon the borderשֶׁבֵּיןthat is betweenיְהוּדָהYehudahוּבִנְיָמִין,and Binyaminוּבֵיתand Beth-אֵלelהָיָהwasבַּצָּפוֹןin the northשֶׁלofנַחֲלַתthe heritage ofבִּנְיָמִין,Binyaminבַּגְּבוּלon the borderשֶׁבֵּיןthat is betweenבִּנְיָמִיןBinyaminוּבֵיןand betweenבְּנֵיthe children ofיוֹסֵף;Yosefנִמְצָאit comes outסֻלָּםa ladderשֶׁרַגְלָיוwhose legs areבִּבְאֵרin Be'erשֶׁבַעShevaוְרֹאשׁוֹand its top isבְּבֵיתin Beth-אֵלelמַגִּיעַreachesאֶמְצַעthe middle ofשִׁפּוּעוֹits slopeנֶגֶדoppositeיְרוּשָׁלַיִם;Yerushalayimוּכְלַפֵּיand regardingשֶׁאָמְרוּwhat they saidרַבּוֹתֵינוּour Rabbisשֶׁאָמַרthat He saidהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One blessed be Heצַדִּיקrighteous manזֶהthisבָּאcameלְבֵיתto the house ofמְלוֹנִיMy lodgingוְיִפָּטֵרand shall departבְּלֹאwithoutלִינָה,overnight lodgingוְאָמְרוּand they saidיַעֲקֹבYaakovקְרָאָהּcalled itלִירוּשָׁלַיִםYerushalayimבֵּיתBeth-אֵלelוְזוֹand thisלוּזLuzהִיאwas itוְלֹאand notיְרוּשָׁלַיִם,Yerushalayimוּמֵהֵיכָןand from whereלָמְדוּdid they learnלוֹמַרto sayכֵּן?soאֲנִיIאוֹמֵרsayשֶׁנֶּעֱקַרthat was uprootedהַרMountהַמּוֹרִיָהMoriahוּבָאand cameלְכָאן,to hereוְזוֹand thisהִיאisקְפִיצַתthe shrinking ofהָאָרֶץthe landהָאֲמוּרָהthat is statedבִּשְׁחִיטַתin Shechitasחֻלִּין,Chullinשֶׁבָּאthat cameבֵּיתthe House ofהַמִּקְדָשׁthe Templeלִקְרָאתוֹtowards himעַדas far asבֵּיתBeth-אֵל,elוְזֶהוּand this isוַיִּפְגַּעand he encounteredבַּמָּקוֹם.the placeוְאִםand ifתֹּאמַרyou sayכְּשֶׁעָבַרwhen passedיַעֲקֹבYaakovעַלbyבֵּיתthe House ofהַמִּקְדָשׁ,the Templeמַדּוּעַwhyלֹאnotעִכְּבוֹdid He detain himשָׁם?thereאִיהוּheלָאdid notיְהַבgiveלִבֵּיהּhis heartלְהִתְפַּלֵּלto prayבַּמָּקוֹםin the placeשֶׁהִתְפַּלְּלוּthat prayedאֲבוֹתָיו,his fathersוּמִןand fromהַשָּׁמַיִםHeavenיְעַכְּבוּהוּ?should they detain himאִיהוּheעַדas far asחָרָןHaranאֲזַל,wentכִּדְאָמְרִינַןas we sayבְּפֶרֶקin the chapter ofגִּידGidהַנָּשֶׁה;ha-Nashehוּקְרָאand the verseמוֹכִיחַproves itוַיֵּלֶךְand he wentחָרָנָה;toward Haranכִּיwhenמְטָאhe arrivedלְחָרָןat Haranאָמַר,he saidאֶפְשָׁרis it possibleשֶׁעָבַרְתִּיthat I passedעַלbyמָקוֹםa placeשֶׁהִתְפַּלְּלוּthat prayedאֲבוֹתַיmy fathersוְלֹאand notהִתְפַּלַּלְתִּיdid I prayבּוֹ?in itיְהַבhe gaveדַּעְתֵּיהּhis mindלְמֶהֱדַרto returnוְחָזַרand returnedעַדas far asבֵּיתBeth-אֵלelוְקָפְצָהand shrankלוֹfor himהָאָרֶץ.the landהַאיthisבֵּיתBeth-אֵלelלֹאwas notהַסָּמוּךְthe one nearלָעַיto Aiאֶלָּאratherלִירוּשָׁלַיִם,near Yerushalayimוְעַלand onשֵׁםaccount ofיִהְיֶהshall beבֵּיתthe House ofאֱלֹהִיםGodקְרָאוֹhe called itבֵּיתBeth-אֵל,elוְהוּאand itהַרis MountהַמּוֹרִיָהMoriahשֶׁהִתְפַּלֵּלthat prayedבּוֹon itאַבְרָהָם,Avrahamוְהוּאand itשָׂדֶהis the fieldשֶׁהִתְפַּלֵּלthat prayedבּוֹin itיִצְחָק,Yitzchakכְּדִכְתִיבas it is writtenלָשׂוּחַto converseבַּשָּׂדֶה;in the fieldדְּהָכִיfor soאָמְרִינַןwe sayבִּפְסָחִיםin Pesachim"אֶלtoהַרthe mountain ofד'Hashemוְאֶלand toבֵּיתthe house ofאֱלֹהֵיthe God ofיַעֲקֹב"Yaakov–מַאיwhatשְׁנָאis differentיַעֲקֹב?Yaakovאֶלָּאratherלֹאnotכְּאַבְרָהָםlike Avrahamשֶׁקְּרָאוֹwho called itהַר,a mountainדִּכְתִיבas it is writtenבְּהַרon the mountain ofד'Hashemיֵרָאֶה,He will be seenוְלֹאand notכְּיִצְחָקlike Yitzchakשֶׁקְּרָאוֹwho called itשָׂדֶה,a fieldדִּכְתִיבas it is writtenלָשׂוּחַto converseבַּשָּׂדֶה,in the fieldאֶלָּאratherכְּיַעֲקֹבlike Yaakovשֶׁקְּרָאוֹwho called itבַּיִתa houseעַ"כַּthus farפֵּרַשִׁ"יexplained Rashiמְדֻיָּקprecise:

רַשִׁ״י

מהHowנורא.fearfulתַּרְגּוּםTargumמַהhowדְּחִילוּfearfulאַתְרָאplaceהָדֵין,thisדְּחִילוּdichiluשֵׁםa nounדָּבָר·הוּא,isכְּמוֹlikeסוּכְלְתָנוּsechletanuוּכְסוּand clothingלְמִלְבָּשׁ:to wear

רַשִׁ״י

וזהAnd thisשערgate ofהשמים.the heavensמְקוֹםa place ofתְּפִלָּהprayerלַעֲלוֹתfor ascendingתְּפִלָּתָםtheir prayerהַשָּׁמַיְמָה.heavenwardוּמִדְרָשׁוֹ,And its Midrashic expositionשֶׁבֵּיתthat the House ofהַמִּקְדָשׁthe Sanctuaryשֶׁלofמַעְלָהaboveמְכֻוָּןis alignedכְּנֶגֶדdirectly oppositeבֵּיתthe House ofהַמִּקְדָשׁthe Sanctuaryשֶׁלofמַטָּה:below

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

וַיַּשְׁכֵּםAnd arose earlyיַעֲקֹבYaakovבַּבֹּקֶרin the morningוַיִּקַּחand tookאֶת—הָאֶבֶןthe stoneאֲשֶׁרthatשָׂםhe placedמְרַאֲשֹׁתָיוunder his headוַיָּשֶׂםand setאֹתָהּitמַצֵּבָהas a monumentוַיִּצֹקand pouredשֶׁמֶןoilעַלuponרֹאשָׁהּ׃its top

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

וַיִּקְרָאAnd he calledאֶת—שֵׁםthe name ofהַמָּקוֹםthe placeהַהוּאthatבֵּיתBeitאֵלElוְאוּלָםhoweverלוּזLuzשֵׁםwas the name ofהָעִירthe cityלָרִאשֹׁנָה׃originally

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

וַיִּדַּרAnd vowedיַעֲקֹבYaakovנֶדֶרa vowלֵאמֹרsayingאִםIfיִהְיֶהwill beאֱלֹהִיםGodעִמָּדִיwith meוּשְׁמָרַנִיand guard meבַּדֶּרֶךְon the wayהַזֶּהthisאֲשֶׁרthatאָנֹכִיIהוֹלֵךְam goingוְנָתַןand giveלִיto meלֶחֶםbreadלֶאֱכֹלto eatוּבֶגֶדand a garmentלִלְבֹּשׁ׃to wear

רַשִׁ״י

אםIfיהיהwill beאלהיםGodעמדי.with meאִםifיִשְׁמֹרHe will keepלִיfor meהַבְטָחוֹתpromisesהַלָּלוּtheseשֶׁהִבְטִיחַנִיthat He promised meלִהְיוֹתto beעִמָּדִי,with meכְּמוֹjust asשֶׁאָמַרHe saidלִיto meוְהִנֵּהand beholdאָנֹכִיI amעִמָּךְ:with you

רַשִׁ״י

ושמרני.And He will keep meכְּמוֹjust asשֶׁאָמַרHe saidלִיto meוּשְׁמַרְתִּיךָAnd I will keep youבְּכֹלin allאֲשֶׁרwhereverתֵּלֵךְ:you go

רַשִׁ״י

ונתןAnd He will giveליto meלחםbreadלאכל.to eatכְּמוֹjust asשֶׁאָמַרHe saidכִּיforלֹאnotאֶעֱזָבְךָ,I will forsake youוְהַמְבַקֵּשׁand one who seeksלֶחֶםbreadהוּאheקָרוּיis calledנֶעֱזָב,forsakenשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidוְלֹאand notרָאִיתִיhave I seenצַדִּיקa righteous manנֶעֱזָבforsakenוְזַרְעוֹand his seedמְבַקֶּשׁseekingלָחֶםbreadתהיליםTehillimל"ז37:

פָּסוּק יב

Pasuk 12

וְשַׁבְתִּיand I returnבְשָׁלוֹםin peaceאֶלtoבֵּיתthe house ofאָבִיmy fatherוְהָיָהand shall beיְהוָהHashemלִיto meלֵאלֹהִים׃for God

רַשִׁ״י

ושבתי.and I returnכְּמוֹjust asשֶׁאָמַרthat He saidלִיto meוַהֲשִׁבֹתִיךָand I will restore youאֶלtoהָאֲדָמָה:the land

רַשִׁ״י

בשלום.in peaceשָׁלֵםcompleteמִןfromהַחֵטְא,the sinשֶׁלֹּאthat notאֶלְמַדI should learnמִדַּרְכֵיfrom ways ofלָבָן:Lavan

רַשִׁ״י

והיהAnd will beה'Hashemליto meלאלהים.for Godשֶׁיָּחוּלthat will restשְׁמוֹHis Nameעָלַיupon meמִתְּחִלָּהfrom beginningוְעַדand untilסוֹף,endשֶׁלֹּאthat notיִמָּצֵאwill be foundפְּסוּלunworthinessבְּזַרְעִי,in my offspringכְּמוֹjust asשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it saysאֲשֶׁרwhichדִּבַּרְתִּיI spokeלָךְ;to youוְהַבְטָחָהand promiseזוֹthisהִבְטִיחַHe promisedלְאַבְרָהָם,to Avrahamשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it saysלִהְיוֹתto beלְךָto youלֵאלֹהִיםfor Godוּלְזַרְעֲךָand to your seedאַחֲרֶיךָafter youבראשיתBereshisי״ז:ז׳17:

פָּסוּק יג

Pasuk 13

וְהָאֶבֶןand the stoneהַזֹּאתthisאֲשֶׁרwhichשַׂמְתִּיI have set upמַצֵּבָהas a pillarיִהְיֶהshall beבֵּיתa house ofאֱלֹהִיםGodוְכֹלand allאֲשֶׁרthatתִּתֶּןYou giveלִיto meעַשֵּׂרtitheאֲעַשְּׂרֶנּוּI will tithe itלָךְ׃to You

רַשִׁ״י

והאבןAnd the stoneהזאת.thisכָּךְlike thisתְּפָרֵשׁyou shall explainוָי"וthe vavזוֹthisשֶׁלofוְהָאֶבֶן:and the stoneאִםIfתַּעֲשֶׂהYou will doלִיfor meאֶת—אֵלֶּה,theseאֲנִיIאֶעֱשֶׂהwill doזֹאת:this

רַשִׁ״י

והאבןAnd the stoneהזאתthisאשרwhichשמתיI setמצבהa pillarוגו'.etc.כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹlike its TargumאֱהִיI willפָלַחserveעֲלָהּupon itקֳדָםbeforeה',Hashemוְכֵןand soעָשָׂהhe didבְשׁוּבוֹupon his returnמִפַּדַּןfrom Padanאֲרָם;Aramכְּשֶׁאָמַרwhen He saidלוֹto himקוּםariseעֲלֵהgo upבֵיתBeisאֵלElשםthereל"ה35י"ד14מַהwhatנֶּאֱמַרis statedשָׁם?thereוַיַּצֵּבand set upיַעֲקֹבYaakovמַצֵּבָהa pillarוַיַּסֵּךְand pouredעָלֶיהָupon itנֶסֶךְ:a libation

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

Yaakov Avinu sets out from Be'er Sheva toward Charan and stops at the holy site of the Beis HaMikdash to sleep. Hashem reveals Himself to him in a dream with a ladder of angels, promising divine protection, offspring as vast as the dust of the earth, and the ultimate inheritance of the Eretz Yisrael. Upon awakening with awe, Yaakov recognizes the sanctity of the place, sets up the stone he slept on as a matzeivah, pours oil on it, names the site Beis El, and makes a holy vow to give ma'aser from all that Hashem provides him.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

When Yaakov Avinu leaves Eretz Yisrael, he finds himself alone at night, sleeping on the ground with rocks around his head. Lichoira, this was the lowest, most uncertain moment of his life. He is running away from Esav, leaving his parents' home, and heading into the unknown. Yet, b'davka in this exact place, Hashem reveals Himself to him with the famous sulam reaching into the heavens, promising him, "Hinei Anochi imach" - I am with you and I will watch over you wherever you go.

The chiddush here is that Hashem isn't only found when everything is clear, peaceful, and comfortable in our lives. Yaakov wakes up and cries out, "Achen yesh Hashem bamakon hazeh v'anochi lo yadati" - surely Hashem is in this place and I did not know it. We often think that when we are going through a dark time, a nisayon, or feeling lost, that we are distant from Hashem. But the Torah is teaching us that Hashem is standing right there over us, waiting for us to build that connection specifically from where we are.

Take this lesson into your day. Whenever you encounter a situation today that feels overwhelming, uncomfortable, or out of your control, don't view it as a distraction from your avodah. Pause for a second and remind yourself: Hashem is right here in this place with me, and I can connect to Him right now.