Why he went to Haran – Vayyetzei
Why did Jacob go to Haran (Gen. 28:10)?
It all depends on where and what was Haran. The name seems to come from a root that means “road”.
Haran was probably a caravan-station north of the Syrian border, a significant stopping place on the caravan routes through the Middle East. Traders met there and it must have had a political and commercial importance.
Rashi says that it was the sort of place where one could make an impact. So we can take it for granted that Jacob deliberately chose to set his sights on Haran.
It is also a place with a family connection since it was the birthplace of Jacob’s mother Rebekah.
The climate in Haran is dry and parched, but weather was not the main consideration.
