Shabbat Candle lighting time: 4:12 (Friday, November 28, 2025)
Shabbat ends: 5:12 (Shabbat night, November 29, 2025)
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Lessons for today,
Monday, 4 Kislev, 5786 - November 24, 2025
After being assured of being guarded by G-d in the previous aliyah, Yakov continues on his journey in this, the second aliyah, and comes to the outskirts of Lavan's town. (Lavan was his uncle - his mother's brother.)
There, by the well, Yakov meets Rachel, Lavan's daughter, and kisses her and cries. (Our sages explain that the crying was because Yakov foresaw with Ruach HaKodesh that he would not be buried together with Rachel.)
Lavan rushes out to meet Yakov because he expected Yakov to be laden with money, gifts, and jewelry like Eliezer was, one generation earlier, but in this case Yakov was penniless. (Esav's son was sent by Esav to kill Yakov, but Yakov gave him all his money and Esav's son let Yakov live).
Yakov goes to Lavan's house where Lavan has two daughters, Leah and Rachel. Leah's eyes were weak from crying (because, being the older sister, she expected to end up with Esav, the older brother), while Rachel was beautiful.
