07-13-2007, 03:47 PM
When Jacob ran away from his brother Esau, for the first 14 years he concealed himself and learned in the academy of Shem and Eber (see Rashi's explanation on Gen. 35:29). Everything he learned there he taught to his son Joseph (see Rashi's explanation on Gen. 37:3). Also, when Rebecca (Rivka) was distraught about the pain of her pregnancy with the twins Jacob and Esau, she went to the academy Shem and Eber to ask what the outcome would be. Shem answered her through prophecy (see Gen. 25:22-23 and the explanation of Rashi).