OU TORAH Vayetzei: Yaakov’s Dream, Am Yisrael’s Future By Rabbi Menachem Leibtag

Is it acceptable for one to doubt a divine promise? Certainly, if God makes a promise, we’d expect Him to keep it! Why then does Yaakov Avinu vow to worship God only IF (and when) God fulfills His promise to return him to the Promised Land? [See 28:20-22.] Furthermore, why should Yaakov make a “neder” (vow) at all? After all, neither Avraham nor Yitzchak ever made any sort of conditional vow after receiving their divine promises! Why is Yaakov’s behavior different? In this week’s shiur, as we study God’s “hitgalut” (revelation) to Yaakov at Bet-El, we attempt to explain why.