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Vayeitzei is one of the few parshiyos in the sedra that has no breaks. At the beginning of Vayikra, Rashi cites the chazal: “Why are there breaks? To give Moshe a chance to contemplate between each parsha and each topic.”
Accordingly, parshas Vayeitzai must be one continuous topic. However, upon perusing the parsha, we find that it is made up of a great variety of subjects. There are many junctures at which it would seem appropriate to make a break. Yaakov's trip is a self-contained subject. Even the dream could easily be separated from the rest, not to mention the marriages and their relevant agreements, the births of the individual tribes, the deals with the sheep, the flight and the showdown with Lavan. All could be seen as separate episodes. In fact, the breaks right before and right at the end of the parsha appear to interrupt more than a break in the middle of the parsha would. What, then, is the great connection between all these smaller subjects? In addition, there are some matters of major import that are omitted or only alluded to, such as the time Yaakov took off to study in yeshivah. Some, such as the confrontation with Elifaz, are omitted from this parsha completely. We need to wait for Vayishlach for that allusion. These would seem to be major events that affect the storyline!
We need to put the actions of the Avos in perspective. These parshiyos are not mere stories, but instructions on how to behave. Yaakov had just been instructed by his parents to go find a shiduch in the house of Lavan and then return home. Rivkah added that he should wait until the wrath of Eisav had abated, and then come home. In fact, Yaakov knew that this shiduch would produce a son that would help him in his struggle with Eisav. The shiduch which he knew had been preordained for him was Rochel, who bore Yosaif. The moment Yosaif was born, Yaakov made plans to return. He realized that both instructions were connected. In fact, they spelled out his mission, to carry the torch of the Avos to the next generation.
That being the case, Yaakov set out on his journey with this mission in mind. He never digressed from his mission, always keeping his focus on the end result, to return to Eretz Yisroel with his wife and the son who would defend him against Eisav. All the incidents and events that took place on the way could easily have served to distract him. Yaakov was never distracted from his ultimate goal. Some of the events did so little to distract him that they are not worthy of mention and are only alluded to. Those events that are detailed clearly could be distractions. The parsha is written in the Torah with no breaks! Nothing could shift the focus of Yaakov. He left…and he returned. Mission accomplished!
The lesson: never to be maiasiach da'as from the tachlis, never to lose focus of the primary goal! Yaakov knew that there were people out there, and that there would be a yaitzer hara, wanting him to digress. He knew that such digression could derail the entire mission. He never let it happen, despite the distractions.
Let us examine some of the events. Resting from his travels, Yaakov has a wonderful dream. He wakes up, comments on it, and promptly goes back to sleep. He cannot let this interrupt his much needed rest. In the morning, he discovers the miracle of the stones and addresses HaShem, immediately refocusing on the success of his mission. His feet now become light in continuing his trip. No break to think about this news! He arrives, and immediately looks for Lavan. Lavan knows about his mission, despite feigning ignorance. Lavan plays delaying games, trying to trick Yaakov. He switches the wives. The very next morning Yaakov is back, not missing a beat. He is still focused on the shiduch with Rachel. Lavan tries other methods to distract Yaakov. He tries to assure that Yaakov does not go back home with Rochel, and certainly not with Yosaif. At the end, he indicates that he considers them his own property. Had HaShem not warned him against it, he would have made sure to take them back home with him, perhaps ridding the world of Yaakov in the process! Yet this news, too, does not stop Yaakov.
What a list! An eventful trip, (replete with a hold-up)! A trick marriage! Four marriages! Eleven children! Hard labor, day and night in all seasons! The pain of his favorite wife being barren! A conniving father-in-law! Genetic engineering experiments! A daring escape and chase! An accusation of theft of valuables! A dramatic showdown and peace deal! Such preoccupations could certainly distract many of us. Yet all this had no effect on Yaakov when it came to fulfilling his mission.
To be sure, Yaakov was intimately involved in each of these events. However, while attending to the details, he was never maisiach da'as, never lost focus. We are all part of this mission. We all carry the torch of the Avos to the next stage. We are also beset by many potential distractions. We have been blessed with the genes of Yaakov, to withstand these distractions. We only need the desire to fulfill our mission. We all have the ability to maintain our focus throughout all of life's petty (and not so petty) distractions without being maisiach da'as from the tachlis, without losing focus of the primary goal.
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