Latest / KMTT - the Torah Podcast
Vayetze | The "Duda'im" Story: A Janus Narrative?
Vayetze | The "Duda'im" Story: A Janus Narrative? by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom
In the midst of the "birth narrative" of Yaakov's family in Haran, the Torah interjects a brief story about Reuven's collecting דודאים (mandrakes) and bringing them to Leah, his mother. Rachel desires them and agrees to give up her night of intimacy with Yaakov in order to get these valuable (?) flowers. The narrative is odd on the face of it, and there are several textual nuances that catch our attention - and redirect that attention back to an earlier narrative in Yaakov's life in which he plays an active role - and…
The skinny
The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.