Spark of Jewish Experience

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* Yaacov leaves his parents’ home and is on his way to his uncle Lavan to presumable marry his cousin Rachel. 

* He stops in this place where he camps outside and settles for the night, where he has a dream that angels are going up and down a ladder. G-d tells him in the dream, ‘I am the G-d of your fathers, Abraham and Isaac. This is a holy place where you are lying and I will give this land to you and your children. Your children will be plentiful and I, G-d, will watch over you and your offspring’.

* When Yaacov wakes up, he vows ‘if G-d is with me then I will follow his ways’.

* On the way, he spends time in the study hall of Shem and Ever, where he learns more about G-d and spiritual concepts.

* Eisav’s son Elifas is instructed to kill Yaacov but is convinced by his uncle that if he robs him of all his money, then he is as good as dead.

* Yaacov arrives and meets Rachel, Lavan’s daughter, by the well.

* We are informed by the narrative that Lavan has two daughters; the oldest, Leah, who has tender eyes, and the youngest, Rachel, who is very beautiful.

* Yaacov has an agreement with Lavan to work seven years and then to marry his youngest daughter, Rachel, whom he loves.

* Lavan tricks Yaacov and switches Rachel with Leah.

* Yaacov agrees to work seven more years to marry Rachel.

* G-d sees that Yaacov loves Rachel more then Leah. So, G-d opens up Leah’s womb and she produces four boys in succession: Reuben, Shimon, Levy, and Yehuda.

* Rachel is jealous of Leah since she can’t have children. She gives her maidservant, Bilah, for a wife to Yaacov stating ‘I too will build a family through her.’

* Bilah gives birth to Dan and then to Naftali.

* Leah sees she stopped giving birth, so she too gives Yaacov her maidservant, Zilpah, for a wife.

* Zilpah gives birth to Gad then to Asher.

* Reuben finds these special plants called dudayim, (thought to be good for fertility) and presents them to his mother. Rachel likes them and exchanges a night with Yaacov for the dudayim.

* Leah has two more boys: Yisachar then Zevulun.

* Rachel gives birth to a son named Yosef.

* Lavan changes the wages, as well as agreements many times in their business affairs, and Yaacov still comes out a winner.

* G-d tells Yaacov ‘It’s time for you and your family to leave after Lavan and his sons over-stepped their boundaries.’

* Rachel steals her father’s magical idols.

* Lavan chases after Yaacov and his family, and accuses him of stealing his idols.

* Yaacov is angry at the accusation and proclaims, ‘Whoever stole your idols shall die’, not knowing it was Rachel who stole it.

* G-d appears to Lavan in a dream, stating he should not harm Yaacov.

* Lavan and Yaacov make a treaty.

The King of the Jewish nation, Shaul, felt threatened by David who became very popular by winning one of the most lop-sided one-on-one battles in history, by beating the giant and heavily favorite, the ferocious Goliath. Goliath represented one of Israel’s archrivals, the Philistines. It was a tremendous show of courage and David became an instant hero. David was from the tribe of Yehuda where the kings were to be chosen from. Shaul, who came from the tribe of Benjamin, knew inevitably someone from Yehuda would become king. Later the prophet Shmuel anointed David the future king of Israel, which infuriated the present king. Shaul’s animosity became so great toward David that he wanted to kill him. However, as time went on, David became stronger, gathering up men to join him. In one of the more famous incidences in the Tanach (Prophets), David snuck up to where Shaul was sleeping, who was in the midst of chasing him, and cut Shaul’s garment. By demonstrating this act and showing it to him later, he wanted to be clear, as to convey that he has no hostility toward Shaul and how easily it would have been to kill him.’ I have no ill will toward you’; perhaps, Shaul should soften his stance towards him.

It’s most puzzling that when David who was on his deathbed, he could not keep warm; he was constantly cold and no garment could make him comfortable. Apparently, he was being punished for cutting the garment of Shaul. But why? David wanted to make a point of strength; he wanted to make peace between them. Perhaps Shaul was humiliated, but, even so, it was not intended to be a malice act. Why was he punished so severely?

In this week’s Parsha, we find Yaacov wanting to marry Rachel. He knew though, that her father, who has a reputation of a cheat, might trick him. Therefore, he gives Rachel signs that when implemented will ensure that indeed it would be Rachel he’s marrying. However, Rachel gives over the signs to her sister Leah, stating ‘I do not want my sister humiliated when Lavan’s plans foil and Yaacov discovers it’s Leah who he’s marrying and not me’.

By Rachel giving over the signs, it fortified the marriage between Yaacov and Leah and through that union producing six out of the twelve tribes. In essence, Rachel sacrificed her having all of the twelve tribes because she did not want her sister Leah to be humiliated.

The question Rabbi Olbaum asks, ‘I understand there’s no street lights and it’s properly pitch dark, but didn’t Yaacov realize it’s not Rachel he’s with? Even the breathing of a person is recognizable. If Yaacov was so careful with the signs, then wouldn’t he be as diligent and on the alert at this crucial juncture too? Nevertheless, the next morning he was surprised. How can that be?

Our sages teach us that Rachel’s virtue was modesty, to such an extent that the sensitive Yaacov wasn’t able to discover and recognize her scent and voice. This characteristic of Rachel’s embracement of modesty enabled Leah to be saved. If it were any other woman, she would have been discovered. Clothing is the face of modesty; it creates a barrier from sinning. David, who is the descendant of Leah (from the tribe of Yehuda) cut the garment of Shaul (from the descendants of Rachel).

In essence, you cut the hand that feeds you. If it weren’t for Rachel, where would Leah be? The modesty of Rachel saved Leah. David targeted one of the strengths of Shaul who also practiced, and was known for modesty, just like his ancestor. Seemingly, this lack of respect was a grave sin.

We see modesty is one of the building blocks of Judaism and clothing is its vehicle. One of the reasons a Jew wears a Talit or Tzitzit is because it is a spiritual garment in which G-d gave us. It too is a garment that represents the foundation of Judaism to the highest degree.