Between The Lines - Parshat Vayeitzei

We constantly exhort people to read between the lines. In a cursory 'first-page-search' the 5-6 songs named 'Between the Lines' (plus one from Janis Ian in the 70's) were all about love lost and the inability to 'read between the lines'. Opportunities are lost and messages are unclear. Sometimes, though,  we are expected to read between the lines to understand spouses, children, bosses, friends, etc. Those times when we do read between the lines, we gain a better understanding of what is happening and we can react accordingly. There are even times when, in doing so, we can help others. This may even be a skill that we would want to hone up on.

We see this happening in this week's parsha, Parshat Vayeitzei, near the end and at the beginning. Near the end it says clearly, "When Jacob saw Lavan in person, [Lavan also] did not behave to him as he did before."1 There is no mention of any specific behavior that Lavan showed that made it obvious. Yaakov 'read between the lines' and figured it out.

In Yaakov's dream at the beginning we also see this. God says to him, "And behold I am with you."2 Duhhh. God is talking with him - of course He is with him. Rashi points out that God needed to say this. Yaakov was afraid, Rashi says - afraid of the journey, afraid of his brother, and afraid of his uncle's reputation. But we find nowhere that Yaakov says I'm afraid, so God had to read between the lines and understand that Yaakov needed soothing on this point. How wonderful it must be to live on the level where God is your soother.

Yet we are expected to follow in God's ways3 - imitatio dei, being the Latin term - which expects us to be that sensitive to other people's needs even though unstated. There is a famous story of the saintly Rabbi Aryeh Levin. He accompanied his wife, who was complaining about leg pains, to the doctor's office. When they were ushered in and the doctor asked 'what was the matter', Rabbi Levin answered "my wife's foot is hurting us." He had that extra ability to feel other people's pain and say 'I'm with you'.

And we can develop that ability as well. It rounds us out as humans. We need to 'look out for number one' and we also need to look out for others - even for those who strive for self-actualization, it needs to be directed outward.4 It may not come today, or even tomorrow. But if you want to be able to be sensitive, to help others, to show concern, to say things that the other may have difficulty expressing, you will find it and be able to succeed.

You will be able to read between the lines.

 

*Click here to read another logoParsha post on Vayeitzei.

 

  1. Bereishit 31:2 - ort translation
  2. berieshit 28:15
  3. Devarim 8:6 and other places
  4. Frankl, Will to Meaning. P.38 This is a central theme in logotherapy.

 

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Have A Great Shabbat!laughing

For More Information On Logotherapy And How You Can Create A Fuller, More Meaningful Life, Or To Book An Online Session,

  1. Call Me At +972-54-589-3399, or in Israel 054-5893399
  2. Contact Me Thru my email at [email protected]