VaYetzeh (Genesis 28:10-32:3)

The portion is named , literally "went out" or "left", because it begins with Jacob
leaving Beer Sheba for Mesopotamia.

This week's portion begins with Jacob's flight from Esau. On his way from Beer Sheba to Mesopotamia, he has a revelation from God in his dream, where he sees angels climbing up and down a ladder to the sky, and is promised the Land of Canaan. He names the place where he slept Bethel, "The House of God", and declares his faith in God.

Upon arriving in Mesopotamia, Jacob meets his cousin, Rachel, by a well where the shepherds bring their flock. Rachel brings him to her father, Laban, who is very happy to see him and invites him to stay.

Jacob falls in love with Rachel, and promises to work for Laban for seven years in return to marrying her. However, after all this time, Laban gives him his older daughter, Leah, instead of Rachel, because it is improper for the younger daughter to marry first. Jacob then agrees to work for an additional seven years, and marries Rachel immediately.

While Rachel is beloved, Leah is hated, and therefore God gives her children. Leah, Rachel's maid Bilhah and Leah's maid Zilpah give birth to 11 children: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Gad, Asher, Dan, Naphtali, and a daughter, Dinah. Only then does Rachel give birth to Joseph.

After the birth of Joseph, Jacob decides it is time to return to Canaan. Laban, who is not the most honest of men, agrees with him on a reward for all his work - all the cattle which are speckled and spotted. However, after making the agreement, Laban tells his sons to remove all such cattle from the flock. Miraculously, Jacob makes the flock breed in a way that makes them give birth to speckled and spotted cattle. Laban's sons accuse Jacob of stealing all their property, and Jacob consults with his wives, Leah and Rachel. It is decided to leave immediately.

Before leaving, Rachel steals her father's household gods. He therefore runs after Jacob, who does not know of what Rachel did and denies that any of his party has the gods. Jacob and Laban make a covenant between them, and Laban returns to his home while Jacob sets out for his journey.