Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, Yaakov Avinu agrees to work for Lavan for seven years in order to marry Rachel. However, when the time comes, Lavan tricks him on the wedding night by switching Leah for Rachel. When Yaakov confronts Lavan the next morning, Lavan claims it is against their local custom to marry off a younger daughter before the elder. Lavan agrees to give Rachel as well after the seven days of feasting for Leah, on the condition that Yaakov serves him for another seven years.

Seeing that Leah is hated, Hashem opens her womb, while Rachel remains barren. Leah gives birth to four sons: Reuven, Shimon, Levi, and Yehuda. Out of a deep desire to build the Shevatim, Rachel gives her maidservant Bilhah to Yaakov as a wife, and Bilhah gives birth to Dan and Naftali. Leah then gives her maidservant Zilpah to Yaakov, who gives birth to Gad and Asher.

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.

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וַיֶּאֱהַבand lovedיַעֲקֹבYaakovאֶת—רָחֵלRachelוַיֹּאמֶרand he saidאֶעֱבָדְךָI will serve youשֶׁבַעsevenשָׁנִיםyearsבְּרָחֵלfor Rachelבִּתְּךָyour daughterהַקְּטַנָּה׃the younger

רַשִׁ״י

אעבדךI will serve youשבעsevenשנים.yearsהֵםthey areיָמִיםdaysאֲחָדִיםa fewשֶׁאָמְרָהthat saidלוֹto himאִמּוֹhis motherוְיָשַׁבְתָּand you shall dwellעִמּוֹwith himיָמִיםdaysאֲחָדִיםa fewבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah;וְתֵדַעand knowשֶׁכֵּןthat soהוּא,it isשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdכְתִיבit is writtenוַיִּהְיוּand they wereבְעֵינָיוin his eyesכְּיָמִיםlike daysאֲחָדִיםa fewבראשיתBereishisכ"ט29:

רַשִׁ״י

ברחלFor Rachelבתךyour daughterהקטנה.the youngerכָּלAllהַסִּימָנִיםthe signsהַלָּלוּtheseלָמָּה?whyלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהוּאthat heיוֹדֵעַknewבּוֹabout himשֶׁהוּאthat heרַמַּאי,a deceiverאָמַרhe saidלוֹ,to himאֶעֱבָדְךָI will serve youבְרָחֵל,for Rachelוְשֶׁמָּאand lestתֹּאמַרyou will sayרָחֵלa Rachelאֲחֶרֶתanotherמִןfromהַשּׁוּק,the streetתַּלְמוּדthe teachingלוֹמַרsaysבִּתְּךָ,your daughterוְשֶׁמָּאand lestתֹּאמַרyou will sayאַחֲלִיףI will exchangeלְלֵאָהLeah'sשְׁמָהּnameוְאֶקְרָאand callשְׁמָהּher nameרָחֵל,Rachelתַּלְמוּדthe teachingלוֹמַרsaysהַקְּטַנָּה;the youngerוְאַףand evenעַל·פִּיthoughכֵןsoלֹאnotהוֹעִיל,did it helpשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdרִמָּהוּ:he deceived him

פָּסוּק ב

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וַיֹּאמֶרAnd saidלָבָןLavanטוֹבBetterתִּתִּיmy givingאֹתָהּherלָךְto youמִתִּתִּיthan my givingאֹתָהּherלְאִישׁto a manאַחֵרotherשְׁבָהdwellעִמָּדִי׃with me

פָּסוּק ג

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וַיַּעֲבֹדAnd servedיַעֲקֹבYaakovבְּרָחֵלfor Rachelשֶׁבַעsevenשָׁנִיםyearsוַיִּהְיוּand they wereבְעֵינָיוin his eyesכְּיָמִיםlike daysאֲחָדִיםa fewבְּאַהֲבָתוֹin his loveאֹתָהּ׃for her

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וַיֹּאמֶרAnd he saidיַעֲקֹבYaakovאֶלtoלָבָןLavanהָבָהgiveאֶת—אִשְׁתִּיmy wifeכִּיforמָלְאוּare fulfilledיָמָיmy daysוְאָבוֹאָהthat I may comeאֵלֶיהָ׃unto her

רַשִׁ״י

מלאוare fulfilledימי.my daysשֶׁאָמְרָהwhich she saidלִיto meאִמִּי,my motherוְעוֹדand anotherמָלְאוּare fulfilledיָמַי,my daysשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdאֲנִיI amבֶןa son ofפ"דeighty-fourשָׁנָהyearsוְאֵימָתַיand whenאַעֲמִידwill I establishי"בtwelveשְׁבָטִים?tribesוְזֶהוּand this isשֶׁאָמַרthat he saidוְאָבוֹאָהthat I may go inאֵלֶיהָ,unto herוְהֲלֹאand beholdקַלa light oneשֶׁבַּקַּלִּיםof the light onesאֵינוֹdoes notאוֹמֵרsayכֵּן?soאֶלָּאbutלְהוֹלִידto begetתּוֹלָדוֹתoffspringאָמַרhe saidכֵּן:so

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וַיֶּאֱסֹףAnd he gatheredלָבָןLavanאֶת—כָּלallאַנְשֵׁיthe men ofהַמָּקוֹםthe placeוַיַּעַשׂand he madeמִשְׁתֶּה׃a feast

פָּסוּק ו

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וַיְהִיand it wasבָעֶרֶבin the eveningוַיִּקַּחand he tookאֶת—לֵאָהLeahבִתּוֹhis daughterוַיָּבֵאand he broughtאֹתָהּherאֵלָיוto himוַיָּבֹאand he cameאֵלֶיהָ׃to her

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וַיִּתֵּןand gaveלָבָןLavanלָהּto herאֶת—זִלְפָּהZilpahשִׁפְחָתוֹhis maidservantלְלֵאָהto Leahבִתּוֹhis daughterשִׁפְחָה׃as a maidservant

פָּסוּק ח

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וַיְהִיAnd it wasבַבֹּקֶרin the morningוְהִנֵּהand beholdהִואshe wasלֵאָהLeahוַיֹּאמֶרand he saidאֶלtoלָבָןLavanמַהwhatזֹּאתis thisעָשִׂיתָyou have doneלִּיto meהֲלֹאwas it notבְרָחֵלfor RachelעָבַדְתִּיI workedעִמָּךְwith youוְלָמָּהand whyרִמִּיתָנִי׃did you deceive me

רַשִׁ״י

ויהיAnd it wasבבקרin the morningוהנהand beholdהיאshe wasלאה.Leahאֲבָלbutבַּלַּיְלָהat nightלֹאnotהָיְתָהshe wasלֵאָה,Leahלְפִיbecauseשֶׁמָּסַרthat gaveיַעֲקֹבYaakovסִימָנִיםsignsלְרָחֵל,to Rachelוּכְשֶׁרָאֲתָהand when sawרָחֵלRachelשֶׁמַּכְנִיסִיןthat they were bringingלוֹto himלֵאָהLeahאָמְרָה:she saidעַכְשָׁוnowתִּכָּלֵםwill be shamedאֲחוֹתִי,my sisterעָמְדָהshe aroseוּמָסְרָהand transmittedלָהּto herאוֹתָןthoseסִימָנִיםsignsמגילהMegillahי"ג13b:

פָּסוּק ט

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וַיֹּאמֶרAnd saidלָבָןLavanלֹאnotיֵעָשֶׂהit is doneכֵןsoבִּמְקוֹמֵנוּin our placeלָתֵתto giveהַצְּעִירָהthe youngerלִפְנֵיbeforeהַבְּכִירָה׃the older

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מַלֵּאFulfillשְׁבֻעַthe week ofזֹאתthis oneוְנִתְּנָהand we will giveלְךָto youגַּםalsoאֶת—זֹאתthis oneבַּעֲבֹדָהfor the workאֲשֶׁרthatתַּעֲבֹדyou will workעִמָּדִיwith meעוֹדanotherשֶׁבַעsevenשָׁנִיםyearsאֲחֵרוֹת׃other

רַשִׁ״י

מלאfulfillשבעthe week ofזאת.this oneדָּבוּקin constructהוּא,it isשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdנָקוּדit is punctuatedבַּחֲטָף,with a Shevaשָׁבוּעַa weekשֶׁלofזֹאת,this oneוְהֵןand these areשִׁבְעַתthe sevenיְמֵיdays ofהַמִּשְׁתֶּה,the feastingבְּתַלְמוּדin the Talmudיְרוּשׁ'Yerushalmiבְּמוֹעֵדin MoedקָטָןKatanוְאִ"אֶand it is impossibleלוֹמַרto sayשָׁבוּעַa weekמַמָּשׁ,literallyשֶׁאִםfor ifכֵּןsoהָיָהit would beצָרִיךְrequiredלְהִנָּקֵדto be punctuatedבְּפַתָּחwith a Patachהַשִּׁי"ן;the letter Shinוְעוֹדand furthermoreשֶׁשָּׁבוּעַthat a weekלְשׁוֹןis a form ofזָכָר,masculineכְּדִכְתִיבas it is writtenשִׁבְעָהsevenשָׁבֻעֹתweeksתִּסְפָּרyou shall countלָךְ,for yourselfלְפִיכָךְthereforeאֵיןthere is noמַשְׁמַעmeaning toשָׁבוּעַa weekאֶלָּאexceptשִׁבְעָה,a seven-day periodשטיי"נאseptaineבְּלַעַזin Old French:

רַשִׁ״י

ונתנהAnd we will giveלך.to youלְשׁוֹןan expression ofרַבִּים,pluralכְּמוֹlikeנֵרְדָהlet us go downוְנָבְלָהand let us confuseוְנִשְׂרְפָהand let us burnבראשיתBereshisי"א11,אַףalsoזֶהthisלְשׁוֹןan expression ofוְנִתֵּן:and we will give

רַשִׁ״י

גםalsoאת—זאת.this oneמִיָּדimmediatelyלְאַחַרafterשִׁבְעַתseven ofיְמֵיthe days ofהַמִּשְׁתֶּה,the wedding feastוְתַעֲבֹדand you shall workלְאַחַרafterנִשּׂוּאֶיהָ:her marriage

פָּסוּק יא

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וַיַּעַשׂAnd didיַעֲקֹבYaakovכֵּןsoוַיְמַלֵּאand he completedשְׁבֻעַthe week ofזֹאתthis oneוַיִּתֶּןand he gaveלוֹto himאֶת—רָחֵלRachelבִּתּוֹhis daughterלוֹto himלְאִשָּׁה׃as a wife

פָּסוּק יב

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וַיִּתֵּןand gaveלָבָןLavanלְרָחֵלto Rachelבִּתּוֹhis daughterאֶת—בִּלְהָהBilhahשִׁפְחָתוֹhis maidservantלָהּto herלְשִׁפְחָה׃for a maidservant

פָּסוּק יג

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וַיָּבֹאand he cameגַּםalsoאֶלtoרָחֵלRachelוַיֶּאֱהַבand he lovedגַּםalsoאֶת—רָחֵלRachelמִלֵּאָהmore than Leahוַיַּעֲבֹדand he servedעִמּוֹwith himעוֹדanotherשֶׁבַעsevenשָׁנִיםyearsאֲחֵרוֹת׃other

רַשִׁ״י

עודyetשבעsevenשניםyearsאחרות.otherאֲחֵרוֹתotherהִקִּישָׁןHe compared themלָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת,to the firstמָהjust asרִאשׁוֹנוֹתthe firstבֶּאֱמוּנָהwere with faithfulnessאַףsoהָאַחֲרוֹנוֹתthe latterבֶּאֱמוּנָה,were with faithfulnessוְאַעַ"פִּand even thoughשֶׁבְּרַמָּאוּתthat with deceitבָּאhe cameעָלָיוagainst himבראשיתBereshitרבהRabbah:

פָּסוּק יד

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וַיַּרְאAnd sawיְהוָהHashemכִּיthatשְׂנוּאָהunloved wasלֵאָהLeahוַיִּפְתַּחand He openedאֶת—רַחְמָהּher wombוְרָחֵלand Rachel wasעֲקָרָה׃barren

פָּסוּק טו

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וַתַּהַרAnd she conceivedלֵאָהLeahוַתֵּלֶדand she boreבֵּןa sonוַתִּקְרָאand she calledשְׁמוֹhis nameרְאוּבֵןReuvenכִּיforאָמְרָהshe saidכִּיbecauseרָאָהhas seenיְהוָהHashemבְּעָנְיִיmy afflictionכִּיforעַתָּהnowיֶאֱהָבַנִיwill love meאִישִׁי׃my husband

רַשִׁ״י

ותקראAnd she calledשמוhis nameראובןReuvenרַבּוֹתֵינוּOur Rabbisפֵּרְשׁוּ,explainedאָמְרָהshe saidרְאוּseeמַהwhatבֵּיןis betweenבְּנִיmy sonלְבֶןand the sonחָמִיof my father-in-lawשֶׁמָּכַרwho soldהַבְּכוֹרָהthe birthrightלְיַעֲקֹב,to Yaakovוְזֶהand thisלֹאdid notמְכָרָהּsell itלְיוֹסֵףto Yosefוְלֹאand did notעִרְעֵרprotestעָלָיו,against himוְלֹאand notעוֹדonlyשֶׁלֹּאthat he did notעִרְעֵרprotestעָלָיוagainst himאֶלָּאbutשֶׁבִּקֵּשׁthat he soughtלְהוֹצִיאוֹto extract himמִןfromהַבּוֹרthe pitברכותBerachosז'7b:

פָּסוּק טז

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וַתַּהַרAnd she conceivedעוֹדagainוַתֵּלֶדand boreבֵּןa sonוַתֹּאמֶרand she saidכִּיbecauseשָׁמַעheardיְהוָהHashemכִּיthatשְׂנוּאָהhatedאָנֹכִיam Iוַיִּתֶּןand He gaveלִיto meגַּםalsoאֶת—זֶהthis oneוַתִּקְרָאand she calledשְׁמוֹhis nameשִׁמְעוֹן׃Shimon

פָּסוּק יז

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וַתַּהַרand she conceivedעוֹדagainוַתֵּלֶדand boreבֵּןa sonוַתֹּאמֶרand she saidעַתָּהnowהַפַּעַםthis timeיִלָּוֶהwill become attachedאִישִׁיmy husbandאֵלַיto meכִּיforיָלַדְתִּיI have borneלוֹto himשְׁלֹשָׁהthreeבָנִיםsonsעַלthereforeכֵּן·קָרָאhe namedשְׁמוֹhis nameלֵוִי׃Levi

רַשִׁ״י

הפעםthis timeילוהwill attachedאישי.my husbandלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהָאִמָּהוֹתthat the Matriarchsנְבִיאוֹתprophetessesהָיוּ,wereוְיוֹדְעוֹתand knewשֶׁי"בthat twelveשְׁבָטִיםtribesיוֹצְאִיםwould issueמִיַּעֲקֹבfrom Yaakovוְד'and fourנָשִׁיםwivesיִשָּׂא,he would marryאָמְרָה,she saidמֵעַתָּהfrom nowאֵיןthere is noלוֹfor himפִתְחוֹןopening ofפֶּהmouthעָלַי,against meשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdנָטַלְתִּיI tookכָּלallחֶלְקִיmy portionבַּבָּנִיםin the childrenברבותin Bereishis Rabbahס'60:

רַשִׁ״י

עלThereforeכן.·כָּלanyמִיoneשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרabout whom it is saidבּוֹregarding himעַלthereforeכֵּן·מְרֻבֶּהis abundantבְּאֻכְלוֹסִין,in populationחוּץexceptמִלֵּוִיfrom Leviשֶׁהָאָרוֹןfor the Arkהָיָהwasמְכַלֶּהconsumingבָּהֶם:among them

רַשִׁ״י

קראHe calledשמוhis nameלוי.Leviבְּכֻלָּםby all of themכְּתִיבit is writtenוַתִּקְרָא,And she calledוְזֶהand this oneכָתַבHe wroteבּוֹabout himקָרָא,he calledוְיֵשׁAnd there isמִ"אַa Midrash Aggadahבְּאֵלֶּהin ElehהַדְּבָרִיםHadevarimרַבָּהRabbahשֶׁשָּׁלַחthat sentהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One blessed be HeגַּבְרִיאֵלGavrielוֶהֱבִיאוֹand brought himלְפָנָיוbefore Himוְקָרָאand He calledלוֹhimשֵׁםnameזֶה,thisוְנָתַןand gaveלוֹto himכ"דtwenty-fourמַתְּנוֹתgifts ofכְּהֻנָּה,priesthoodוְעַלand on account ofשֵׁםthe nameשֶׁלִּוָּהוּthat He accompanied himבְמַתָּנוֹתwith giftsקְרָאוֹHe called himלֵוִי:Levi

פָּסוּק יח

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וַתַּהַרand she conceivedעוֹדagainוַתֵּלֶדand she boreבֵּןa sonוַתֹּאמֶרand she saidהַפַּעַםthis timeאוֹדֶהI will praiseאֶת—יְהוָהHashemעַלthereforeכֵּן·קָרְאָהshe calledשְׁמוֹhis nameיְהוּדָהYehudahוַתַּעֲמֹדand she stoppedמִלֶּדֶת׃from bearing

רַשִׁ״י

הפעםThis timeאודה.I will thankשֶׁנָּטַלְתִּיfor I tookיוֹתֵרmoreמֵחֶלְקִי,than my portionמֵעַתָּהfrom nowיֵשׁthere isלִיupon meלְהוֹדוֹת:to thank

פָּסוּק יט

Pasuk 19

וַתֵּרֶאAnd sawרָחֵלRachelכִּיthatלֹאnotיָלְדָהshe boreלְיַעֲקֹבto Yaakovוַתְּקַנֵּאand enviedרָחֵלRachelבַּאֲחֹתָהּher sisterוַתֹּאמֶרand she saidאֶלtoיַעֲקֹבYaakovהָבָהgiveלִּיto meבָנִיםchildrenוְאִםand ifאַיִןnotמֵתָהdeadאָנֹכִי׃am I

רַשִׁ״י

ותקנאAnd Rachel enviedרחלRachelבאחותה.her sisterקִנְּאָהshe enviedבְמַעֲשֶׂיהָher deedsהַטּוֹבִים,goodאָמְרָהshe saidאִלּוּלֵיwere it notשֶׁצָּדְקָהthat she was righteousמִמֶּנִּיmore than meלֹאnotזָכְתָהwould she meritלְבָנִיםchildrenבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah:

רַשִׁ״י

הבהGiveלי.to meוְכִיand didכָּךְsoעָשָׂהactאָבִיךָyour fatherלְאִמְּךָ?to your motherוְהֲלֹאand did notהִתְפַּלֵּלhe prayעָלֶיהָ:for her

רַשִׁ״י

מתהdeadאנכי.I amמִכָּאןfrom hereלְמִיfor oneשֶׁאֵיןwho has noלוֹto himבָנִיםchildrenשֶׁחָשׁוּבthat he is consideredכַּמֵּתlike deadבראשיתBereshisרבהRabbah:

פָּסוּק כ

Pasuk 20

וַיִּחַרAnd flaredאַףthe anger ofיַעֲקֹבYaakovבְּרָחֵלat Rachelוַיֹּאמֶרand he saidהֲתַחַתIs in place ofאֱלֹהִיםGodאָנֹכִיIאֲשֶׁרWhoמָנַעhas withheldמִמֵּךְfrom youפְּרִיfruit ofבָטֶן׃the womb

רַשִׁ״י

התחת.Is instead ofוְכִיand is itבִמְקוֹמוֹin his placeאֲנִי?I am

רַשִׁ״י

אשרWhoמנעhas withheldממך.from youאַתְּYouאוֹמֶרֶתsayשֶׁאֶעֱשֶׂהthat I should doכְאַבָּא,like Father;אֲנִיIאֵינִיam notכְּאַבָּא,like Father;אַבָּאFatherלֹאdid notהָיוּhaveלוֹ·בָנִים,children,אֲנִיIיֵשׁhaveלִי·בָּנִים;children;מִמֵּךְfrom youמָנַעHe withheldוְלֹאand notמִמֶּנִּי:from me.

פָּסוּק כא

Pasuk 21

וַתֹּאמֶרAnd she saidהִנֵּהhere isאֲמָתִיmy maidservantבִלְהָהBilhahבֹּאcomeאֵלֶיהָto herוְתֵלֵדand she will bearעַלuponבִּרְכַּיmy kneesוְאִבָּנֶהand I will be built upגַםalsoאָנֹכִיIמִמֶּנָּה׃from her

רַשִׁ״י

עלUponברכי.my kneesכְּתַרְגּוּמוֹas its Targumוַאֲנָאand Iאֱרַבֵּי:will rear

רַשִׁ״י

ואבנהand I may be built upגםalsoאנכי.Iמַהוּwhat isגַּם?alsoאָמְרָהshe saidלוֹto himזְקֶנְךָyour grandfatherאַבְרָהָםAvrahamהָיוּthere wereלוֹto himבָנִיםchildrenמֵהָגָרfrom Hagarוְחָגַרand he girdedמָתְנָיוhis loinsכְּנֶגֶדforשָׂרָה,Sarahאָמַרhe saidלָהּto herזְקֵנָתִיmy grandmotherהִכְנִיסָהbrought inצָרָתָהּher rival-wifeלְבֵיתָהּ,into her houseאָמְרָהshe saidלוֹto himאִםifהַדָּבָרthe matterהַזֶּהthisמְעַכֵּב,preventsהִנֵּהbeholdאֲמָתִי:my handmaid

רַשִׁ״י

ואבנהand I may be builtגםalsoאנכי.Iכְּשָׂרָה:like Sarah

פָּסוּק כב

Pasuk 22

וַתִּתֶּןand she gaveלוֹto himאֶת—בִּלְהָהBilhahשִׁפְחָתָהּher maidservantלְאִשָּׁהfor a wifeוַיָּבֹאand cameאֵלֶיהָto herיַעֲקֹב׃Yaakov

פָּסוּק כג

Pasuk 23

וַתַּהַרAnd she conceivedבִּלְהָהBilhahוַתֵּלֶדand boreלְיַעֲקֹבto Yaakovבֵּן׃a son

פָּסוּק כד

Pasuk 24

וַתֹּאמֶרand saidרָחֵלRachelדָּנַנִּיjudged meאֱלֹהִיםGodוְגַםand alsoשָׁמַעheardבְּקֹלִיmy voiceוַיִּתֶּןand gaveלִיto meבֵּןa sonעַלthereforeכֵּן·קָרְאָהshe calledשְׁמוֹhis nameדָּן׃Dan

רַשִׁ״י

דנניjudged meאלהים.GodדָּנַנִּיHe judged meוְחִיְּבַנִיand found me guiltyוְזִכַּנִיand acquitted meבראשיתBereshitרבהRabbah:

פָּסוּק כה

Pasuk 25

וַתַּהַרAnd she conceivedעוֹדagainוַתֵּלֶדand boreבִּלְהָהBilhahשִׁפְחַתthe maidservant ofרָחֵלRachelבֵּןa sonשֵׁנִיsecondלְיַעֲקֹב׃to Yaakov

פָּסוּק כו

Pasuk 26

וַתֹּאמֶרAnd saidרָחֵלRachelנַפְתּוּלֵיBonds ofאֱלֹהִיםGodנִפְתַּלְתִּיI attached myselfעִםwithאֲחֹתִיmy sisterגַּםalsoיָכֹלְתִּיI prevailedוַתִּקְרָאand she calledשְׁמוֹhis nameנַפְתָּלִי׃Naftali

רַשִׁ״י

נפתוליWrestlings ofאלהים.GodמְנַחֵםMenachemבֶּןson ofסָרוּקSarukפֵּרְשׁוֹexplained itבְּמַחְבֶּרֶתin connection withצָמִידclosely boundפָּתִיל,coveringחִבּוּרִיםbondsמֵאֵתfromהַמָּקוֹםthe OmnipresentנִתְחַבַּרְתִּיI was joinedעִםwithאֲחוֹתִיmy sisterלִזְכּוֹתto meritלְבָנִים.childrenוַאֲנִיand Iמְפָרְשׁוֹexplain itלְשׁוֹןas an expression ofעִקֵּשׁperverseוּפְתַלְתֹּלand crookedדבריםDevarimל"ב32–נִתְעַקַּשְׁתִּיI was persistentוְהִפְצַרְתִּיand I pleadedפְצִירוֹתpleadingsוְנַפְתּוּלִיםand wrestlingsהַרְבֵּהmanyלַמָּקוֹם,with the Omnipresentלִהְיוֹתto beשָׁוָהequalלַאֲחוֹתִי:to my sister

רַשִׁ״י

גםalsoיכלתי.I have prevailedהִסְכִּיםHe agreedעַלtoיָדִי;my requestוְאֻנְקְלוֹסand Onkelosתִּרְגֵּםtranslatedלְשׁוֹןan expression ofתְּפִלָּה,prayerכְּמוֹlikeנַפְתּוּלֵיprayers ofאֱלֹהִיםGodנִתְפַּלְתִּיI prayedבַּקָּשׁוֹתrequestsהַחֲבִיבוֹתthat are belovedלְפָנָיו;before Himנִתְקַבַּלְתִּי,I was acceptedוְנֶעֱתַרְתִּיand I was answeredכַאֲחוֹתִי:like my sister

רַשִׁ״י

נפתלתי.I wrestledנִתְקַבְּלָהwas acceptedתְפִלָּתִי,my prayerוּמִ"אַand from Midrashיֵשׁthere areרַבִּיםmanyבִּלְשׁוֹןin the language ofנוֹטָרִיקוֹן:notaricon

פָּסוּק כז

Pasuk 27

וַתֵּרֶאAnd sawלֵאָהLeahכִּיthatעָמְדָהshe had stoppedמִלֶּדֶתfrom bearingוַתִּקַּחand she tookאֶת—זִלְפָּהZilpahשִׁפְחָתָהּher maidservantוַתִּתֵּןand she gaveאֹתָהּherלְיַעֲקֹבto Yaakovלְאִשָּׁה׃as a wife

פָּסוּק כח

Pasuk 28

וַתֵּלֶדand boreזִלְפָּהZilpahשִׁפְחַתthe maidservant ofלֵאָהLeahלְיַעֲקֹבto Yaakovבֵּן׃a son

רַשִׁ״י

ותלדAnd she boreזלפה.Zilpahבְּכֻלָּןwith all of themנֶאֱמַרit is statedהֵרָיוֹןpregnancyחוּץexceptמִזִּלְפָּה,from Zilpahלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהָיְתָהthat she wasבַחוּרָהyoungestמִכֻּלָּןof all of themוְתִינֹקֶתand a childבְּשָׁנִיםin yearsוְאֵיןand notהֵרָיוֹןpregnancyנִכָּרnoticeableבָּהּ;in herוּכְדֵיand in orderלְרַמּוֹתto deceiveלְיַעֲקֹב,Yaakovנְתָנָהּgave herלָבָןLavanלְלֵאָה,to Leahשֶׁלֹּאso that notיָבִיןhe would understandשֶׁמַּכְנִיסִיןthat they bring inלוֹto himאֶת—לֵאָה,Leahשֶׁכָּךְfor soמִנְהָגthe customלִתֵּןto giveשִׁפְחָהhandmaidהַגְּדוֹלָהthe elderלַגְּדוֹלָהto the elderוּקְטַנָּהand youngerלַקְּטַנָּה:to the younger

פָּסוּק כט

Pasuk 29

וַתֹּאמֶרAnd saidלֵאָהLeahבגדgood fortuneבָּאhas comeגָדgood fortuneוַתִּקְרָאand she calledאֶת—שְׁמוֹhis nameגָּד׃Gad

רַשִׁ״י

באgood fortune cameגד.gadבָּאcameמַזָּלfortuneטוֹב,goodכְּמוֹlikeגַּדbe luckyגַּדִּיmy luckוְסָנוּקand tireלָאnotשבתShabbosס"ז67b,וְדוֹמֶהand similarלוֹto itהַעֹרְכִיםwho set outלַגַּדfor fortuneשֻׁלְחָןa tableישעיהוYeshayahuס"ה65,וּמִ"אַand Midrashic explanationשֶׁנּוֹלַדthat he was bornמָהוּל,circumcisedכְּמוֹlikeגֹּדּוּcut downאִילָנָאthe treeדניאלDanielד'4,וְלֹאand notיָדַעְתִּיI knowעַלonמָהwhatנִכְתְּבָהit was written asתֵּבָהwordאַחַת;oneדָּ"אַanother explanationלָמָּהwhyנִקְרֵאתis it readתֵּבָהwordאַחַתoneבָּגָד,treacheryכְּמוֹlikeבָּגַדְתָּyou acted faithlesslyבִּי,with meכְּשֶׁבָּאתָwhen you cameאֶלtoשִׁפְחָתִי,my maidservantכְּאִישׁlike a manשֶׁבָּגַדwho acted faithlesslyבְּאֵשֶׁתagainst the wife ofנְעוּרִים:youth

פָּסוּק ל

Pasuk 30

וַתֵּלֶדand she boreזִלְפָּהZilpahשִׁפְחַתthe maidservant ofלֵאָהLeahבֵּןa sonשֵׁנִיa secondלְיַעֲקֹב׃to Yaakov

פָּסוּק לא

Pasuk 31

וַתֹּאמֶרAnd saidלֵאָהLeahבְּאָשְׁרִיIn my good-fortuneכִּיforאִשְּׁרוּנִיcall me fortunateבָּנוֹתwomenוַתִּקְרָאand she calledאֶת—שְׁמוֹhis nameאָשֵׁר׃Asher

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah traces the marriages of Yaakov Avinu to Leah and Rachel, Lavan's deceit, and the birth of the first eight Shevatim. Yaakov works seven years for Rachel, but Lavan deceptively gives him Leah instead. After completing Leah's week of celebration, Yaakov marries Rachel as well and commits to another seven years of work. Hashem blesses Leah with four sons—Reuven, Shimon, Levi, and Yehuda—while Rachel remains childless. Rachel then gives Bilhah to Yaakov, producing Dan and Naftali, after which Leah gives Zilpah to Yaakov, who bears Gad and Asher.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

Look at what happens when Leah Imenu gives birth to her fourth son. After naming her first three sons based on her pain and her yearning for her husband's love, she reaches a completely new madreiga with the fourth. She says, 'HaPa'am odeh es Hashem', this time I will praise Hashem, and she calls his name Yehudah. The chiddush here is incredible: Leah recognized that she had received more than her expected share in building the Shivtei Kah, and her immediate response was pure, uncalculated hoda'ah.

So often in life, we get caught up measuring our plight against others or focusing on what we feel is missing. We pray for something, and even when Hashem answers us, our minds are already drifting to the next missing piece or comparing our lot to our neighbor. But Leah Imenu teaches us the real avodah of a Yid. The moment you recognize a chesed from Hashem, stop everything and just say thank you. Don't let the moment pass without recognizing the Tov U'Meitiv.

This is why we are called 'Yehudim', named after Yehudah, because our very essence is to be modeh, to acknowledge and give thanks. Hoda'ah isn't just something we do when everything is perfect; it's a mindset that opens our eyes to see Hashem's personal Hashgachah in our lives every single day.

Today, stop at one moment when you notice a small chesed from Hashem, whether it's good news, a warm moment with family, or just a smooth drive, and say a heart-felt 'Thank you Hashem' out loud before moving on.