Parashat Vayeitzei: Strength We Never Knew We Had

Throughout the Soviet Union, when Jewish religious observance was severely restricted, Rabbi Shlomo Bokov devoted much of his life to traveling from community to community performing brit milah.

Rabbi Bokov lived in Saratov, but the work took the Rabbi across the Soviet Union, wherever Jewish families needed a mohel. The journeys were demanding, and the mission required extraordinary dedication.

Rav Yitzchak Zilber recalled that Rabbi Bokov continued this sacred work throughout life. Rabbi Bokov passed away while traveling to Kuybyshev, where another Jewish boy was awaiting a brit milah.

The story was particularly meaningful to Rav Zilber because Rabbi Bokov had shared an explanation of a remarkable episode in Parashat Vayeitzei.

Yaakov Avinu had fled home and was traveling to Charan, where Yaakov hoped to marry and establish a family. The journey, however, was nothing like the one Eliezer had undertaken years earlier when seeking a wife for Yitzchak.

Eliezer had arrived with ten camels carrying valuable gifts. Yaakov arrived with nothing.

According to the account Rav Zilber relates, Elifaz, the son of Eisav, had taken Yaakov’s possessions along the way. Although Yaakov’s life was spared, everything intended to support the journey was gone.

Now Yaakov faced an uncertain future in the household of Lavan, a man known for greed and dishonesty.

How could someone arriving empty-handed possibly succeed?

Rav Zilber explains that Yaakov placed complete trust in G-d, drawing strength from the words of Tehillim: “My help comes from Hashem, Maker of heaven and earth” (121:2).

Then something extraordinary happened.

Upon reaching Charan, Yaakov encountered three flocks of sheep gathered beside a well. A large stone covered its opening, and the shepherds explained that the stone could not be removed until everyone had assembled to help.

Yet when Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, Yaakov approached the well and rolled the stone away alone.

How could one weary traveler accomplish what several shepherds could not?

Rabbi Shlomo Bokov offered Rav Zilber a beautiful explanation.

Yaakov had arrived penniless, exhausted, and uncertain about the future. But G-d was showing Yaakov that human strength is not limited to what appears possible.

With help from Above, obstacles that seem insurmountable can sometimes be overcome.

Rabbi Bokov’s own life reflected that teaching. Traveling throughout the Soviet Union to ensure that Jewish boys could enter the covenant of Avraham Avinu was no simple undertaking. Yet Rabbi Bokov continued this sacred mission despite the hardships and personal sacrifices involved.

The lesson reaches far beyond physical strength.

There are moments when responsibilities seem overwhelming or circumstances appear impossible to change. We measure our abilities against the challenge and conclude that success is beyond our reach.

Yaakov’s experience reminds us that faith and determination can reveal strength we never knew we possessed. Rabbi Bokov demonstrated that same conviction through a lifetime of dedication to Jewish families.

The stone covering the well was real. So were the obstacles facing Rabbi Bokov. Neither prevented a sacred mission from being fulfilled.

Parashat Vayeitzei is sponsored by Nison Badalov & Edita Babayev.

---

Rabbi Yitzchok Zilber, zt”l, dedicated his life to teaching Torah, and his impactful writings continue to inspire Jews worldwide. Copyright 2023 by The LaMaalot Foundation. Conversations on the Torah is catalogued at The Library of Congress. All rights reserved. www.LaMaalot.org