Parashat Vayetze – Opening Questions

• What was the meaning of Yaakov's Dream?
• In what period of time were Yaakov's first twelve children born?
• Why did Rachel steal her father's terafim?
• How are the lives of Yaakov and David similar? How do their thorny relationships with their in-laws compare to Moshe's positive relationship with Yitro? What might be learned from the comparisons?
• Why were so many of the Matriarchs barren? How do they compare to other mothers of future leaders who similarly had difficulty conceiving?