| The Portion of Vayeishev Jacob's Cry for Help and the letters "vav and "yud" (Vay) In the portion of Vayigash Jacob, in response to Pharoh's question, summarizes his life's story. Pharoh asks Jacob "How many are the years of your life?" And Jacob responds "The years of my life are short and bad". And indeed from the very beginning Jacob had to contend with his surroundings. First with Esau, then with Laban, then with an angel and then again with Esau. In our portion, Vayeishev, it seems at first glance that Jacob has finally found his much deserved rest and contentment. But then, suddenly, his favorite son Joseph disappears and is presumed dead. The brothers show their father Joseph's coat of many colors. "And all his sons and all his daughters came to comfort him- "vayemaein l'henachem"- and he refused to be comforted. The letter "vav" – the first letter in the word "vayemaein" (and he refused)- is written in an unusual manner when followed by the letter "yud" sounding the syllable "vay" which, according to Sefer Rokeiach, emphasizes the pain which Jacob felt at that moment. It appears that this form of the letter "vav" followed by the letter "yud" is found each time where the scribe wants to emphasize the degree of sadness in the episode. For example, when Joseph cries out against the advances of Potifar's wife (the "vav" and "yud" in "vayehee k'shomo") and the letters "vav" and "yud" in the Book of Exodus where the Children of Israel cry out ("vayizaku") to G-d in their pain and anguish. | 
