Yaakov's Vow

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  1. Yaakov's Ladder

    Rabbi Amnon Bazak

    When Yaakov departs for Haran, God appears to him in a dream and makes several promises. Yaakov is hesitant about the fulfillment of one of the promises, and makes a vow for reinforcement. Why was Yaakov unsure? How does the ladder in his dream relate to his fears?

  2. The Vow and the Name Change

    Prof. Jonathan Grossman

    The fact that Yaakov's name was changed appears twice in the Torah. Why? What is the purpose of the repetition?

  3. Yiftach's Vow

    Rabbi Michael Hattin

    A close read of the text and a textual link to Akeidat Yitzhak points to the conclusion that the intention of Yiftah's vow was in fact human sacrifice. In the larger context, what this episode corroborates is that Israel and its leaders, in this horrible culmination of the process throughout the era of the Judges have become indistinguishable from the Canaanite. Yiftah, a self-styled leader of Israel and a seeming servant of all that is just and holy, is at the same time a product of the terrible effects of corrosive Canaanite culture that seeks to guarantee victory upon the battlefield by vowing to immolate an innocent human being.

  4. If God Shall be With Me...and I Return Safely

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  5. Yaakov's Altars in Beit El and Shechem

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  6. Erev Shabbat Parshat Vayetze - Yaakov's Priorities and God's Promise

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 20 minutes

    Yaakov is ready to leave Lavan’s household. But then Yaakov consents to stay.

    Rav Samet points out that Yaakov is now primarily focused on making money. Whereas before, equipped only with a stick, he dreamt of God, now he dreams about making more money. Yaakov is now at a much lower level than when he wishes to leave after twenty years, sneaking out as opposed to proudly stating that he would like to leave. We look at the rest of Yaakov's journey and analyze God’s promise to Yaakov . Ultimately , God will be with him -and us- through thick and thin if we bring Him into our lives. 

  7. Lavan's Treachery and Yaakov's Vow

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 21 minutes

    What does Yaakov do to deserves Lavan’s treachery? Rav Medan points out that Yaakov quotes the angel who referred to God’s revelation in Beit El. Yaakov was sent to work for Lavan to find a wife. But after that, Yaakov was supposed to return and build a matzeva in Beit El. What right did Yaakov have to delay that return? And what can we learn from his vacillations?