Vayeitzei

Genesis 28:10−32:3

Blaming Society

We should strive to emulate Abraham and Isaac, who integrated their senses of self with values of Torah, rather than emulating Lavan who compartmentalized his values and the values of his surrounding society.

By Rabbi Avraham Fischer, Orthodox Union for MyJewishLearning.com

Jacob had been involved in an act of deception, and now he becomes the victim of deception.

After seven years of working for his uncle Laban, he wishes to marry Rachel, Laban's younger daughter.

“And it was in the morning, that behold it was Leah. And [Jacob] said to Laban "What is this you have done to me?  Did I not work with you for Rachel? And why did you deceive me?" (Genesis 29:25). Laban, the champion deceiver, tricked Jacobby switching Rachel with Leah.

Laban's Excuses

Laban explains himself; after all, he is a recognized leader in the community. When he presents his excuses, he makes a not-so-veiled reference to Jacob’s own act of deception, in which he took the place of his older brother Esau in receiving their father Isaac’s blessing: “It is not done so in our place, to put the younger before the older.  Complete this one’s [Leah’s] week [of celebration] . . ." (Genesis 29:26-27)

The next word in Hebrew is critical to our understanding of Laban’s character:  “v’nitnah." Theoretically, there are two ways of translating this word.  Ibn Ezra (12th century Spanish commentator) interprets it passively: “she will be given” after the week of celebration for Leah, it will be acceptable for Rachel to marry Jacob.

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