Yaakov traveled from חרן [present day southeast Turkey] to שכם. I was curious how long a trip that is. We sit comfortably in shul and read about the trip but focus only on the epic battle with the מלאך and the subsequent meeting with Esav. But what distance did he travel?? By donkey!!!!
Approximately .... 426 miles [if you can believe the computer....]!!!!
WOW. What a journey. And people think Aliyah is difficult TODAY!!!
And what about the Siyata Di-shmaya that when we read the Parshiyos about Yaakov in Turkey, we eat Turkey!!!
הודו לה' כי טוב !!!!!!!!
And on that note, according to one calculation that I saw, Avraham's journey to ארץ ישראל was at LEAST 1551 miles but probably much more!!!
