VaYetze Yaakov 5767 -- Kisses Flowing Like Water

This week’s D’var Torah will be in the form of the Rashi that I believe should have been written. Doubtless, an oversight. J

When Jacob comes to the well in Haran, he sees Rachel and then single-handedly rolls aside the stone that covers the well. The verse then says “VaYashk et haTzon – He poured water for the Flock.” Bereshit 29:10. The next verse then says “VaYishak Yaakov L’Rahel – Jacob kissed Rachel.” Note two things here: First, vowels aside, VaYashk and VaYishak are spelled exactly the same. Second, they are not from the same roots and have different meanings. The root in the first instance is Nun, Shin, Kuf, and in the second is Shin, Kuf, Hay. Nonetheless, these two different words, coming from two different roots, come out the same.

One more point before we get to our Rashi. In Bereshit 29:13, we are told regarding Laban “VaYichabek Lo VaYinashek Lo – He hugged and he kissed Jacob.”

Now our ‘Rashi:’
VaYinashek Lo -- When Jacob kissed Rachel, the text said VaYishak; now, when Laban kisses Jacob, in a grammatically identical circumstance, the text says VaYinashek. That is, when Jacob kissed Rachel, one letter from the root (Nun) fell, but when Laban kissed Jacob, everything was proper.
This is because when Laban kissed Jacob the kiss was merely superficial. Laban was actually trying to find Jacob’s money, but needed to do so under the cover of hugging and kissing (See Rashi to VaYichabek Lo and VaYinashek Lo). For this reason he made his kiss as ostentatious as possible. The Torah likewise spells his ‘kiss’ with all of the letters such that we too would be unmistakably and instantly struck by the fact that Laban is kissing Jacob. However, when Jacob kissed Rachel, he did so out of unmistakable joy and love, and so his kiss rushed forward like water. For this reason the text states “VaYishak Yaakov L’Rahel – Jacob kissed Rachel like flowing water.” Because Jacob kissed Rachel with true intention, not worrying about appearances, the Torah does not go out of its way to declare what Jacob is up to, and, corresponding to Jacob’s heartfelt enthusiasm, allows one of the letters in the root to drop.

Drisha Achrina (another explanation): Laban’s kiss was offensive to Jacob. The same root for kiss – Nun, Shin, Kuf – also spells NeSheK: Weapon. Thus, when the Torah uses the full root in VaYinashek Lo we also learn that Laban’s kiss was, like a weapon, offensive to Jacob. In Gematria VaYichabek Lo VaYinashek Lo is equal to “Chibko LiGzol Mah Sh’Alav – He hugged him in order to rob him” (Baal haTurim). Jacob’s kiss, on the other hand, was as desirable to Rachel as water is to a shepherdess in the desert.

May our Shabbat and Torah study be joyous and heartfelt, like the first kiss of our ancestors Rachel and Jacob.