After twenty years in the house of Lavan, Yakov prepares to leave for home. But he is afraid to do so openly, for Lavan will certainly object. Yakov has been too valuable an asset in Lavan's house and in his commercial enterprises to be abandoned easily. There is also the fact that Yakov's wives are Lavan's daughters and Yakov's children are Lavan's grandchildren. The fact that Lavan has mistreated his children and grandchildren during Yakov's stay in his home does not alter the fact that he views them as being his children and grandchildren. He will tell Yakov that "the sons are my sons and the daughters are my daughters!" Yakov also knows that Lavan resents that Yakov, in spite of all the machinations and dishonesty of Lavan towards him, has become wealthy and powerful. Lavan is jealous of Yakov's success and will do all in his power to prevent Yakov from going home to the Land of Israel to enjoy the fruits of his labor and marriages. Therefore, Yakov feels compelled to leave Lavan unannounced, in the dead of the night, almost as a fugitive. Yakov wishes desperately to avoid a painful and unnecessary
confrontation with Lavan. But it is not to be. Lavan pursues Yakov, overtakes him, berates him and threatens him, but, finally, Yakov manages to enter into a covenant with Lavan that allows him to escape from Aram and continue on his journey back to the Land of Israel.
"The actions and incidents of the lives of the Fathers are the precursors of the history of their children." This story of Yakov and Lavan has been played out so many times in Jewish history as to be repetitive, though never boring. The Jewish people, in their long journey in many different exiles, have always suffered discrimination, bigotry, oppression, and the constant threat of violent action against it. Yet, somehow, the Jewish people always were able to grow and, many times, even prosper in such a hostile environment. And the Jewish contribution to the development and prosperity of the general societies in which they lived was always major and continuing.
The blessing given to our father, Avraham, that "through you shall all the families of the earth be blessed," was fulfilled with beneficence, if not even vengeance, throughout the long Jewish exile. There is no nation or society that has "hosted" the Jewish people that has not benefitted enormously from the Jewish presence in its midst. Nevertheless, the Jews were always seen as being foreign, untrustworthy, exploitative, and dangerous. The Nazi slogan in Germany summed up the matter succinctly, albeit brutally: "The Jews are our misfortune!" And in our century, the attitude of the leaders of the Soviet Union towards its Jewish population was also one of pathological disdain and suspicion. Yet, the Jews were castigated for leaving (and, in many instances, prevented from leaving) their "homeland," and for longing for Zion and Jerusalem. The countries of our exile always claimed that our children belonged to them and that everything that we possessed was in reality somehow taken from them.
The sad events of this bloodiest of centuries testify to Lavan's true intentions, the difficulties of living in Lavan's home, and the difficulties of leaving Lavan's home. But, somehow, Yakov did leave Lavan and he did finally return home. There would be many difficult and sad stops on that way home, but Yakov nevertheless persevered and came home. And that, pretty much, is the story of this century of Jewish life. The great centers of the Jewish exile, except for North America, have all practically closed down. The Sefardic world of the Mediterranean and Near East countries, the heartland of Ashkenazic Jewry in Eastern and Central Europe - all are almost judenrein today. Most of the Jews (and many non-Jews as well) have left Russia and settled in Israel. The Diaspora is slowly closing down. Yakov is going home, no matter what. Lavan may not be happy with Yakov's decision, or that Yakov has a home to go to, but Yakov owes Lavan little. Therefore, Lavan's objections are no longer very relevant to Yakov's plans. The children of Yakov live his odyssey in their lives. So may we be able to follow in his footsteps in the future.
Shabat Shalom.
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Rabbi Berel Wein, noted author and lecturer, is founder of the Destiny Foundation, dedicated to educating Jews about their historical and ethical heritage.
confrontation with Lavan. But it is not to be. Lavan pursues Yakov, overtakes him, berates him and threatens him, but, finally, Yakov manages to enter into a covenant with Lavan that allows him to escape from Aram and continue on his journey back to the Land of Israel.
"The actions and incidents of the lives of the Fathers are the precursors of the history of their children." This story of Yakov and Lavan has been played out so many times in Jewish history as to be repetitive, though never boring. The Jewish people, in their long journey in many different exiles, have always suffered discrimination, bigotry, oppression, and the constant threat of violent action against it. Yet, somehow, the Jewish people always were able to grow and, many times, even prosper in such a hostile environment. And the Jewish contribution to the development and prosperity of the general societies in which they lived was always major and continuing.
The blessing given to our father, Avraham, that "through you shall all the families of the earth be blessed," was fulfilled with beneficence, if not even vengeance, throughout the long Jewish exile. There is no nation or society that has "hosted" the Jewish people that has not benefitted enormously from the Jewish presence in its midst. Nevertheless, the Jews were always seen as being foreign, untrustworthy, exploitative, and dangerous. The Nazi slogan in Germany summed up the matter succinctly, albeit brutally: "The Jews are our misfortune!" And in our century, the attitude of the leaders of the Soviet Union towards its Jewish population was also one of pathological disdain and suspicion. Yet, the Jews were castigated for leaving (and, in many instances, prevented from leaving) their "homeland," and for longing for Zion and Jerusalem. The countries of our exile always claimed that our children belonged to them and that everything that we possessed was in reality somehow taken from them.
The sad events of this bloodiest of centuries testify to Lavan's true intentions, the difficulties of living in Lavan's home, and the difficulties of leaving Lavan's home. But, somehow, Yakov did leave Lavan and he did finally return home. There would be many difficult and sad stops on that way home, but Yakov nevertheless persevered and came home. And that, pretty much, is the story of this century of Jewish life. The great centers of the Jewish exile, except for North America, have all practically closed down. The Sefardic world of the Mediterranean and Near East countries, the heartland of Ashkenazic Jewry in Eastern and Central Europe - all are almost judenrein today. Most of the Jews (and many non-Jews as well) have left Russia and settled in Israel. The Diaspora is slowly closing down. Yakov is going home, no matter what. Lavan may not be happy with Yakov's decision, or that Yakov has a home to go to, but Yakov owes Lavan little. Therefore, Lavan's objections are no longer very relevant to Yakov's plans. The children of Yakov live his odyssey in their lives. So may we be able to follow in his footsteps in the future.
Shabat Shalom.
--------------------------------------------------------
Rabbi Berel Wein, noted author and lecturer, is founder of the Destiny Foundation, dedicated to educating Jews about their historical and ethical heritage.