Parshat Vayeitzei (He Left)

The Torah portion is Vayeitzei, Genesis 28:10-32:3. In synagogues using the Triennial system, 5785 is year 3 and the Torah reading is Genesis 31:17-32:3.

This is a busy portion focused upon Jacob, his wives and his children. It begins with Jacob's dream of the ladder, tells of his years of service to marry Leah and Rachel, the birth of 11 of his 12 sons (some by Leah and Rachel's handmaidens) and Jacob's daughter Dinah, and Jacob's conflict with father-in-law Laban.

The haftarah is Hosea 12:13-14:10. The first verse speaks of Jacob's journey and his service keeping sheep to earn a wife, which reminds us of the Torah portion that tells this story. Some also read Joel 2:26-27 at this time.

In synagogues using the Sephardic tradition, the Haftarah is Hosea 11:7-12:12.