This week’s portion, Vayeitzei, opens as Jacob flees his brother Esau (who is angry at him for “stealing” the blessings). Jacob goes to Charan to stay with his uncle, Lavan. On the way he spends a night at the holiest place on earth: the Temple Mount. There, he dreams of a ladder standing on the earth and reaching up to the heavens, with angels ascending and descending it. G-d stands over him and says that He will protect Jacob. He will return to the Land of Israel and his children will multiply as the sands of the earth.

After arriving in Charan, Jacob meets Lavan’s daughter, Rachel, and asks Lavan for her hand in marriage. Lavan sets a price: seven years of hard work shepherding his flock. When the wedding day finally arrives, Lavan tricks Jacob by substituting Rachel with Leah (her older sister) – making the room dark and covering her with a veil. When Jacob complains to Lavan the next day, Lavan tells him that he can marry Rachel too, but he has to work another seven years. Over the years, Leah bears many children while Rachel remains childless. Finally, Rachel has a son and names him Joseph.

Lavan continuously schemes to manipulate Jacob out of his pay. His efforts backfire and Jacob becomes wealthy at Lavan’s expense. After twenty years at Lavan’s house, Jacob and his family quietly pack their bags and begin to travel back to Israel. Lavan catches up with them and demands to know why they left without telling him. Jacob responds by telling him his grievance: he served Lavan well for twenty years and was mistreated every step of the way. The two eventually agree to sign a peace treaty and each one travels his separate way. Jacob continues home and meets angels as he enters Israel.