Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, Yaakov Avinu arrives in the land of the Easterners after his journey from Be'er Sheva. Upon coming to a well in the field, he finds local shepherds waiting around a massive stone covering the well's mouth, unable to water their sheep until all the herds gather to lift it together. Yaakov engages them in conversation, asking about his uncle Lavan, just as Lavan's daughter Rachel approaches with her father's flock.

Upon seeing Rachel and Lavan's sheep, Yaakov exhibits extraordinary strength and single-handedly rolls the heavy stone off the well to water the flock. After greeting Rachel and weeping, Yaakov reveals his identity to her. Rachel runs to inform Lavan, who hurries to welcome his nephew into his home. After Yaakov stays with Lavan for a month, Lavan offers to set his wages, and the Torah introduces us to Lavan's two daughters, Leah and Rachel.

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

וַיִּשָּׂאand liftedיַעֲקֹבYaakovרַגְלָיוhis feetוַיֵּלֶךְand he wentאַרְצָהto the land ofבְנֵיthe children ofקֶדֶם׃East

רַשִׁ״י

וישאAnd he liftedיעקבYaakovרגליו.his feetמִשֶּׁנִּתְבַּשֵּׂרfrom when informedבְּשׂוֹרָהnewsטוֹבָהgoodשֶׁהֻבְטַחthat he was promisedבִּשְׁמִירָהwith protectionנָשָׂאliftedלִבּוֹhis heartאֶת—רַגְלָיוhis feetוְנַעֲשָׂהand he becameקַלswiftלָלֶכֶת,to walkכָּךְsoמְפֹרָשׁit is explainedבִּבְ"רַ:in Bereishis Rabbah

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

וַיַּרְאand he sawוְהִנֵּהand beholdבְאֵרa wellבַּשָּׂדֶהin the fieldוְהִנֵּהand beholdשָׁםthereשְׁלֹשָׁהthreeעֶדְרֵיflocks ofצֹאןsheepרֹבְצִיםcrouchingעָלֶיהָby itכִּיforמִןfromהַבְּאֵרthe wellהַהִואthatיַשְׁקוּthey wateredהָעֲדָרִיםthe flocksוְהָאֶבֶןand the stoneגְּדֹלָהwas largeעַלuponפִּיthe mouth ofהַבְּאֵר׃the well

רַשִׁ״י

ישקוThey would waterהעדרים.the flocksמַשְׁקִיםwaterהָרוֹעִיםthe shepherdsאֶת—הָעֲדָרִים,the flocksוְהַמִּקְרָאand the verseדִבֵּרspokeבְּלָשׁוֹןin a languageקְצָרָה:concise

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

וְנֶאֶסְפוּand gatheredשָׁמָּהthereכָלallהָעֲדָרִיםthe flocksוְגָלֲלוּand rolledאֶת—הָאֶבֶןthe stoneמֵעַלfrom uponפִּיthe mouth ofהַבְּאֵרthe wellוְהִשְׁקוּand wateredאֶת—הַצֹּאןthe sheepוְהֵשִׁיבוּand returnedאֶת—הָאֶבֶןthe stoneעַלuponפִּיthe mouth ofהַבְּאֵרthe wellלִמְקֹמָהּ׃to its place

רַשִׁ״י

ונאספו.And were gatheredרְגִילִיםaccustomedהָיוּthey wereלְהֵאָסֵף,to gatherלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהָיְתָהthat wasהָאֶבֶןthe stoneגְּדוֹלָה:large

רַשִׁ״י

וגללו.and they rolledוְגוֹלְלִים,and they would rollוְתַרְגּוּמוֹand its Targumוּמְגַנְדְּרִין,and rollingכָּלeveryלְשׁוֹןexpression ofהוֹוֶהcontinuous actionמִשְׁתַּנֶּהalternatesלְדַבֵּרto speakבִּלְשׁוֹןin the language ofעָתִידfutureוּבִלְשׁוֹןand in the language ofעָבָר,pastלְפִיaccording toשֶׁכָּלthat everyדָּבָרthingהַהוֹוֶהthat happensתָּמִידalwaysכְּבָרalreadyהָיָהhas beenוְעָתִידand is destinedלִהְיוֹת:to be

רַשִׁ״י

והשיבו.And they restoredתַּרְגּוּמוֹits translationוּמְתִיבִין:and they put back

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd he saidלָהֶםto themיַעֲקֹבYaakovאַחַיMy brothersמֵאַיִןfrom whereאַתֶּםare youוַיֹּאמְרוּAnd they saidמֵחָרָןfrom Charanאֲנָחְנוּ׃are we

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd he saidלָהֶםto themהַיְדַעְתֶּםDo you knowאֶת—לָבָןLavanבֶּןthe son ofנָחוֹרNachorוַיֹּאמְרוּAnd they saidיָדָעְנוּ׃we know

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd he saidלָהֶםto themהֲשָׁלוֹםIs there peaceלוֹto himוַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidשָׁלוֹםpeaceוְהִנֵּהand beholdרָחֵלRachelבִּתּוֹhis daughterבָּאָהis comingעִםwithהַצֹּאן׃the flock

רַשִׁ״י

באהis comingעםwithהצאן.the flockהַטַּעַםthe accentבָּאָלֶ"ףis on the alefוְתַרְגּוּמוֹand its translationאָתְיָא;is comingוְרָחֵלand Rachelבָּאָהcame–הַטַּעַםthe accentלְמַעְלָהis aboveבַּבֵּי"תon the beisוְתַרְגּוּמוֹand its translationאֲתָת;she cameהָרִאשׁוֹןthe firstלְשׁוֹןis an expression ofעוֹשָׂהpresent actionוְהַשֵּׁנִיand the secondלְשׁוֹןis an expression ofעָשְׂתָה:past action

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd he saidהֵןbeholdעוֹדstillהַיּוֹםthe dayגָּדוֹלis greatלֹאit is notעֵתtimeהֵאָסֵףto gatherהַמִּקְנֶהthe livestockהַשְׁקוּwaterהַצֹּאןthe flockוּלְכוּand goרְעוּ׃pasture

רַשִׁ״י

הןLoעודyetהיוםthe dayגדול.is highלְפִיBecauseשֶׁרָאָהthat he sawאוֹתָםthemרוֹבְצִים,lying downכַּסָּבוּרhe thoughtשֶׁרוֹצִיםthat they wantלֶאֱסֹףto gatherהַמִּקְנֶהthe livestockהַבַּיְתָהhomeוְלֹאand notיִרְעוּgrazeעוֹד,furtherאָמַרhe saidלָהֶןto themהֵןLoעוֹדyetהַיּוֹםthe dayגָּדוֹל,is highכְּלוֹמַרthat is to sayאִםifשְׂכִירִיםhired workersאַתֶּםyou areלֹאyou have notשִׁלַּמְתֶּםcompletedפְּעֻלַּתthe work ofהַיּוֹם,the dayוְאִםand ifהַבְּהֵמוֹתthe animalsשֶׁלָּכֶםare yoursאַעַ"פִּeven thoughכֵןsoלֹאit is notעֵתtime forהֵאָסֵףgatheringהַמִּקְנֶהthe livestockוְגו'and so onבראשיתBereshisרבהRabbah:

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

וַיֹּאמְרוּAnd they saidלֹאnotנוּכַלwe canעַדuntilאֲשֶׁרthatיֵאָסְפוּwill be gatheredכָּלallהָעֲדָרִיםthe flocksוְגָלֲלוּand they rollאֶת—הָאֶבֶןthe stoneמֵעַלfrom uponפִּיthe mouth ofהַבְּאֵרthe wellוְהִשְׁקִינוּand we waterהַצֹּאן׃the sheep

רַשִׁ״י

לאWe cannotנוכל.·לְהַשְׁקוֹת,to give waterלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהָאֶבֶןthat the stone isגְּדוֹלָה:large

רַשִׁ״י

וגללו.and they rollזֶהthisמְתֻרְגָּםis translatedוִיגַנְדְּרוּן,and they will-rollלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהוּאthat itלְשׁוֹןis a form ofעָתִיד:future

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

עוֹדֶנּוּWhile he was stillמְדַבֵּרspeakingעִמָּםwith themוְרָחֵלand Rachelבָּאָהcameעִםwithהַצֹּאןthe flockאֲשֶׁרwhichלְאָבִיהָbelonged to her fatherכִּיforרֹעָהa shepherdessהִוא׃she was

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

וַיְהִיand it wasכַּאֲשֶׁרwhenרָאָהsawיַעֲקֹבYaakovאֶת—רָחֵלRachelבַּתdaughter ofלָבָןLavanאֲחִיbrother ofאִמּוֹhis motherוְאֶתand —צֹאןthe flock ofלָבָןLavanאֲחִיbrother ofאִמּוֹhis motherוַיִּגַּשׁand stepped nearיַעֲקֹבYaakovוַיָּגֶלand rolledאֶת—הָאֶבֶןthe stoneמֵעַלfrom uponפִּיthe mouth ofהַבְּאֵרthe wellוַיַּשְׁקְand wateredאֶת—צֹאןthe flock ofלָבָןLavanאֲחִיbrother ofאִמּוֹ׃his mother

רַשִׁ״י

ויגשAnd drew nearיעקבYaakovויגל.and rolledכְּמִיlike oneשֶׁמַּעֲבִירwho removesאֶת—הַפְּקָקthe stopperמֵעַלfrom uponפִּיthe mouth ofצְלוֹחִית;a flaskלְהוֹדִיעֲךָto inform youשֶׁכֹּחוֹthat his strengthגָּדוֹלwas greatבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah:

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

וַיִּשַּׁקand kissedיַעֲקֹבYaakovלְרָחֵלRachelוַיִּשָּׂאand raisedאֶת—קֹלוֹhis voiceוַיֵּבְךְּ׃and wept

רַשִׁ״י

ויבך.And he weptלְפִיbecauseשֶׁצָּפָהthat he foresawבְרוּחwith the spiritהַקֹּדֶשof holinessשֶאֵינָהּthat she is notנִכְנֶסֶתenteringעִמּוֹwith himלִקְבוּרָה.for burialדָּ"אַanother explanationלְפִיbecauseשֶׁבָּאthat he cameבְּיָדַיִםwith handsרֵקָנִיּוֹת;emptyאָמַר,he saidאֱלִיעֶזֶרEliezerעֶבֶדservant ofאֲבִיfather ofאַבָּאmy fatherהָיוּwereבְיָדָיוin his handsנְזָמִיםringsוּצְמִידִיםand braceletsוּמִגְדָּנוֹתand delicaciesוַאֲנִיand Iאֵיןthere is noבְּיָדִיin my handכְלוּם;anythingלְפִיbecauseשֶׁרָדַףthat pursuedאֶלִיפַזEliphazבֶּןson ofעֵשָׂוEsavבְּמִצְוַתby command ofאָבִיוhis fatherאַחֲרָיוafter himלְהָרְגוֹto kill himוְהִשִּׂיגוֹ,and overtook himוּלְפִיand becauseשֶׁגָּדַלthat grew upאֶלִיפַזEliphazבְּחֵיקוֹin lap ofשֶׁלofיִצְחָק,Yitzchakמָשַׁךְhe withheldיָדָיו.his handsאָמַרhe saidלוֹto himמָהwhatאֱעֱשֶׂהshall I doלַצִּוּוּיregarding the commandשֶׁלofאַבָּא?my fatherאָמַרsaidלוֹto himיַעֲקֹבYaakovטֹלtakeמַהwhatשֶּׁבְּיָדִי,that is in my handוְהֶעָנִיand a poor manחָשׁוּבis consideredכַּמֵּת:like a dead person

פָּסוּק יב

Pasuk 12

וַיַּגֵּדand toldיַעֲקֹבYaakovלְרָחֵלto Rachelכִּיthatאֲחִיa kinsman ofאָבִיהָher fatherהוּאheוְכִיand thatבֶןson ofרִבְקָהRivkahהוּאheוַתָּרָץand she ranוַתַּגֵּדand toldלְאָבִיהָ׃her father

רַשִׁ״י

כיforאחיbrother ofאביהher fatherהוא.he isקָרוֹבa relativeלְאָבִיהָ,to her fatherכְּמוֹjust asאֲנָשִׁיםmenאַחִיםbrothersאֲנָחְנוּ.we areוּמִדְרָשׁוֹ,and its Midrashic expositionאִםifלְרַמָּאוּתfor deceitהוּאheבָא,comesגַםalsoאֲנִיI amאָחִיוhis brotherבְּרַמָּאוּת,in deceitוְאִםand ifאָדָםa personכָּשֵׁרuprightהוּא,he isגַּםalsoאֲנִיI amבֶןthe son ofרִבְקָהRivkahאֲחוֹתוֹhis sisterהַכְּשֵׁרָה:the righteous

רַשִׁ״י

ותגדAnd she toldלאביה.her fatherלְפִיbecauseשֶׁאִמָּהּthat her motherמֵתָה,had diedוְלֹאand notהָיָהwas thereלָהּfor herלְהַגִּידto tellאֶלָּאexceptלוֹhimבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah:

פָּסוּק יג

Pasuk 13

וַיְהִיAnd it wasכִשְׁמֹעַwhen hearingלָבָןLavanאֶת—שֵׁמַעthe news ofיַעֲקֹבYaakovבֶּןson ofאֲחֹתוֹhis sisterוַיָּרָץand he ranלִקְרָאתוֹtoward himוַיְחַבֶּקand he embracedלוֹhimוַיְנַשֶּׁקand he kissedלוֹhimוַיְבִיאֵהוּand he brought himאֶלtoבֵּיתוֹhis houseוַיְסַפֵּרand he relatedלְלָבָןto Lavanאֵת—כָּלallהַדְּבָרִיםthe mattersהָאֵלֶּה׃these

רַשִׁ״י

וירץAnd he ranלקראתו.towards himכַּסָּבוּרthinkingמָמוֹןmoneyהוּאhe wasטָעוּן,laden withשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdעֶבֶדthe servant ofהַבַּיתthe householdבָּאcameלְכָאןhereבַּעֲשָׂרָהwith tenגְמַלִּיםcamelsטְעוּנִים:laden

רַשִׁ״י

ויחבק.And he embracedכְּשֶׁלֹּאwhen notרָאָהhe sawעִמּוֹwith himכְלוּם,anythingאָמַרhe saidשֶׁמָּאperhapsזְהוּבִיםgold coinsהֵבִיאhe broughtוְהִנָּםand behold theyבְּחֵיקוֹ:in his bosom

רַשִׁ״י

וינשקAnd he kissedלו.himאָמַרhe saidשֶׁמָּאperhapsמַרְגָּלִיוֹתpearlsהֵבִיאhe broughtוְהֵםand theyבְּפִיו,are in his mouthבְּ"רַ:Bereshis Rabbah

רַשִׁ״י

ויספרAnd he toldללבן.to Labanשֶׁלֹּאthat notבָאhe cameאֶלָּאbutמִתּוֹךfrom withinאֹנֶסcoercion ofאָחִיו,his brotherוְשֶׁנָּטְלוּand that they tookמָמוֹנוֹhis moneyמִמֶּנּוּ:from him

פָּסוּק יד

Pasuk 14

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd he saidלוֹto himלָבָןLavanאַךְsurelyעַצְמִיmy boneוּבְשָׂרִיand my fleshאָתָּהyou areוַיֵּשֶׁבand he stayedעִמּוֹwith himחֹדֶשׁa month ofיָמִים׃days

רַשִׁ״י

אךsurelyעצמיmy boneובשרי.and my fleshמֵעַתָּהfrom nowאֵיןthere is noלִיfor meלְאָסְפְּךָto gather youהַבַּיְתָה,into the houseהוֹאִילsinceוְאֵיןand there is notבְּיָדְךָin your handכְלוּם,anythingאֶלָּאbutמִפְּנֵיbecause ofקוּרְבָהkinshipאֲטַפֵּלI will attendבְּךָto youחֹדֶשa monthיָמִים,of daysוְכֵןand soעָשָׂה,he didוְאַףand evenזוֹthisלֹאwas notלְחִנָּם,for freeשֶׁהָיָהfor he wasרוֹעֶהshepherdingצֹאנוֹ:his sheep

פָּסוּק טו

Pasuk 15

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd he saidלָבָןLavanלְיַעֲקֹבto YaakovהֲכִיIs it becauseאָחִיmy brotherאַתָּהyou areוַעֲבַדְתַּנִיthat you should serve meחִנָּםfor nothingהַגִּידָהtellלִּיmeמַהwhat isמַּשְׂכֻּרְתֶּךָ׃your wage

רַשִׁ״י

הכיis itאחיmy brotherאתה.youלְשׁוֹןan expression ofתֵּמַהּ,wonderוְכִיand is itבִּשְׁבִילbecauseשֶׁאָחִיthat my brotherאַתָּהyou areתַּעַבְדֵנִיyou should serve meחִנָּם:for free

רַשִׁ״י

ועבדתני.and you shall serve Meכְּמוֹis likeוְתַעַבְדֵנִי;and you shall serve Meוְכֵןand soכָּלeveryתֵּבָהwordשֶׁהִיאthat isלְשׁוֹןin the tense ofעָבָרpastהוֹסִיףif one addsוָי"וa vavבְּרֹאשָׁהּ,at its beginningוְהִיאand itהוֹפֶכֶתreversesהַתֵּבָהthe wordלְהַבָּא:to the future

פָּסוּק טז

Pasuk 16

וּלְלָבָןAnd to Labanשְׁתֵּיwere twoבָנוֹתdaughtersשֵׁםthe name ofהַגְּדֹלָהthe olderלֵאָהwas Leahוְשֵׁםand the name ofהַקְּטַנָּהthe youngerרָחֵל׃was Rachel

פָּסוּק יז

Pasuk 17

וְעֵינֵיand the eyes ofלֵאָהLeahרַכּוֹתwere tenderוְרָחֵלand Rachelהָיְתָהwasיְפַתbeautiful ofתֹּאַרformוִיפַתand beautiful ofמַרְאֶה׃appearance

רַשִׁ״י

רכות.Tenderשֶׁהָיְתָהfor she wasסְבוּרָהthinkingלַעֲלוֹתto fallבְּגוֹרָלוֹinto the lotשֶׁלofעֵשָׂוEsavוּבוֹכָה,and weepingשֶׁהָיוּfor wereהַכֹּלeveryoneאוֹמְרִיםsayingשְׁנֵיtwoבָנִיםsonsלְרִבְקָהto Rivkahוּשְׁתֵּיand twoבָנוֹתdaughtersלְלָבָן,to Lavanהַגְּדוֹלָהthe elderלַגָּדוֹלfor the elderוְהַקְּטַנָּהand the youngerלַקָּטָןfor the youngerבבאBavaבתראBasraקכ"ג123a:

רַשִׁ״י

תאר.Formהוּאit isצוּרַתthe shape ofהַפַּרְצוּף,the faceלְשׁוֹןan expression ofיְתָאֲרֵהוּhe marks itבַשֶּׂרֶד:with a stylusישעיהוYeshayahuמ"ד,44י"ג13,קונ"פאשcompassבלע"ז:in foreign tongue

רַשִׁ״י

מראה.Appearanceהוּאit isזִיוthe splendor ofקְלַסְתֵּר:her facial features

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

This aliyah describes Yaakov Avinu's arrival at the well in Aram, his encounter with the local shepherds, and his meeting with Rachel, which prompts him to effortlessly roll the massive stone off the well. After Lavan eagerly receives Yaakov into his household and Yaakov resides there for a month, Lavan initiates a discussion regarding Yaakov's wages, leading into the introduction of Leah and Rachel.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The pasuk tells us right at the beginning of the aliya, "Vayisa Yaakov raglav", Yaakov lifted his feet and went on his way. Rashi brings a wonderful chiddush here: once Yaakov received the divine promise of protection from Hashem at Bais El, his heart lifted him up. His feet became light and easy to carry. Lichoira, nothing in his physical reality had changed yet. He was still a penniless fugitive on his way to the house of Laban, far away from his parents. Yet, because he carried inside himself the clear emunah that Hashem was with him, the heavy journey suddenly felt weightless.

This is a major yesod for our own daily avodah. So often in life, we feel weighed down by our responsibilities, our parnassah worries, or whatever nisayon Hashem puts in front of us. We feel like our feet are made of lead and we are just dragging ourselves through the day. The Torah is coming to teach us that the heaviness does not come from the physical burden itself; it comes from feeling alone in the struggle. The moment a Yid reminds himself that Hashem is walking right beside him, holding his hand through every single step, the entire picture changes. Mimeila, the burden softens and the heart lifts the feet.

When you go about your day today and feel a moment of strain or exhaustion, pause for ten seconds and bring Hashem into the room. Tell yourself, "Hashem is with me, protecting me and guiding my steps just like He did for Yaakov Avinu." See how that bitachon instantly lightens your spirit and gives you fresh koach to serve Him with joy.

Takeaway for today: Before starting a difficult task today, say out loud, "Hashem, I know You are with me," and feel the weight lift off your shoulders.