“…and (Jacob) said to Lavan, “What is my transgression, and what is my sin that you have so hotly pursued me?” (Genesis 31:36)
(Setting the scene: Jacob had endured too many years of his overbearing father-in-law Lavan, so he packed up his family and everything he had and left. His wife Rachel grabbed her father’s idols on the way out. When Lavan realized they had all left and that his idols were missing, he quickly chased after Jacob and his family).
According to Rav Meir Shapiro of Lublin, Jacob was humiliated by the passion that Lavan displayed for his idols. He saw how much enthusiasm and zeal Lavan had for them and felt that his passion for Godliness paled in comparison.
Jacob declares: I now know ‘what my transgression is, and what my sin is’ – I see now how much I can learn from you, Lavan; ‘for you have so hotly pursued me’ – I wish I pursued my mitzvos and righteous deeds so passionately!
3 Responses
B”H. May we all merit to pursue our mitzvahs and righteous deeds.
For sure I can learn from Jacob, Rachel, and I can peruse more deeds, even in this time of Covid we live in…..when one can only be with the people in the same house hold,,,and no one else can come in.[ in our area this is mandate] Not having idols in our houses, and taking them out, for they dont belong in our lives. I think this world with materialistic things has stopped a bit for the moment . We are our brothers keeper, and when we know we are made in the image of Hashem,we totally care…sorry a bit off the subject. B’H
…young girl misses dad already; dad misses her more forever.