VAYEITSEI

Setting boundaries. A vital concept in relationships whether between individuals or groups.  And near the end of this week’s parsha, the issue of boundaries comes up.  Here Jacob lifts a large boulder (the issue of stones is a theme in Jacob’s life – the Hebrew letters for stone are a combination of father and children – uniting generations -and stones have been a sign for Jacob who placed them at his head before sleeping in the wild and they combined to be one stone and an access to the famed ladder where Jacob realized Hashem was in this place) – and now with this large boulder, Jacob creates a boundary between him and his unscrupulous father in law,  the devious Laban, with the agreement that neither shall cross this boundary with an intention of doing evil.  And behind Jacob are his sons who will add stones to support him and enlarge this mound.