Jacob resumed his journey and came to
the land of the Easterners. There before his eyes was a well in the
open. Three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it, for the flocks
were watered from that well. ---Genesis 29:1~2
Well, yes,I made a fun and exciting `Shalom` discovery when reading this week`s Parsha Va-yetse , that in Hebrew the word `Shalom` appears twice for the words `well` and `well` in one of the dialogues in Genesis 29:6. Not in the case of the `water well` but in the case where the word `well` is used in the sense above, as in `are you well?`
more drawing and talk of wells.
How are you , are you well?
Yes, I`m well.
The Hebrew writing in the drawing is from Genesis 29:6, where Jacob meets Rachel. First Jacob inquires about his relatives and how the family is. And in the very same line, we meet Rachel.
The verse goes like this:
וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם, הֲשָׁלוֹם לוֹ; וַיֹּאמְרוּ שָׁלוֹם--וְהִנֵּה רָחֵל בִּתּוֹ, בָּאָה עִם-הַצֹּאן. 6
And he said unto them: 'Is it well with him?' And they said: 'It is well; and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.'
I highlighted in blue to show how in Hebrew the word `Shalom` is used here.
Hence in the drawing, I drew the word Shalom in the Well and Shalom in the sky,
I put twelve sheep in the drawing, and do you know why?
Because there at the well was a meeting between Rachel and Jacob.
You might say that meeting went well. Jacob moved the big rock off the well, and then everything flowed from there,
he watered the flock.
Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and broke into tears. ---Genesis 29:11
Saw Rachel, and gave her A kiss at first sight,
and you know what happens in the pages after that,
12 sons were born , who became the 12 tribes of Israel (Jacob`s name was changed to Israel in the next Parsha)
Of course, other wives were involved who mothered the sons,
but here at the well
it all was begun!!
PS note: speaking of Shalom, if you haven`t yet entered the first Challah and Cherry Blossoms giveaway, please read the end of the post below and enter! Up until Dec. 3, and be eligible to win a book, Shalom in the Psalms!
(NOTE: This was posted from last year but the prize of the book Shalom in the Psalms was not redeemed. If you would like to be eligible for this gift please let me know in the comments to that affect, and I will hope to send one to someone this time around!! I just can't figure out how to do the Amazon giveaway this time, so I would arrange to have it sent to you from Amazon, this will be active up to the end this month of Kislev! (through December 28 )
PSS did you notice Rachel`s dress? I gave her a dress that is yellow with a pattern of pink cherry blossoms!
PSS I hope that even those who don`t read Hebrew, that you are starting to recognize the word `Shalom` even in the Hebrew letters!!! Wishing you well!
Blessings and Shalom ♡ Shayndel
＊Note on "re-visited"!:
From the Archives of Challah and Cherry Blossom, from the original post HERE!!
I like this talk of "Wells" and the scene at the well with Rachel and Jacob, so this post in its entirety is
RE-POSTED !
God's Torah Cycle is Eternal and Everlasting, and this moment of meeting is forever re-visited and alive each time we read the Parsha!
Torah Readings for this week of Parsha Vayetse:
Genesis 28:10~32:2 (3)
Hosea 11:7~14:9(10)
John 1:19~51
A link to this week's CHALLAH-Cast can be found HERE!
If you watch, please enjoy, and you will see the connection to this post and the word "SHALOM"!
