The פסוק at the begining of the Parsha tells us on יעקב אבינו
ויפגע במקום
To which חז”ל say refers to Yaakov establishing the תפלה of מעריב. This תפלה is said at night, when it’s dark outside. The משך חכמה explains that יעקב established this תפלה as he was leaving ארץ ישראל and heading into the גלות, which is dark, like the night. And we can gleam lessons on living in and surviving the גלות from the life of יעקב אבינו.
Rav Yosef Ber Soliveichik points out that it’s in this Parsha that we’re exposed to the 1st case of classic Antisemitism. לבן confronts יעקב and threatens him.
יש לאל ידי לעשות עמכם רע
He had planned to wipe out יעקב and his entire family, as we say in the הגדה
ולבן ביקש לעקור את הכל
What is the source of this great hatred, that possessed לבן and all Antisemites? We can likewise find a hint to it in the Parsha. When יעקב travels to חרן and arrives at the well, he notices the local shepherds standing around, and confronts them
לא עת האסף המקנה השקו הצאן ולכו רעו
Noticing what appeared to be professional misconduct on behalf of the shepherds, יעקב proceeds to rebuke them. Herein lies the key to understanding the hatered many of אומות העולם have for Klal Yisrael. When they look at us and see perfection of character, ethics and morality, it makes them feel guilty. So instead of improving themselves, they channel those feelings towards jew hatred. This was articulated in the words of one of the worst anti semites of all time, who wrote that ” Conscience is a Jewish invention.” Our enemies recognize our greatness, and it’s because if that greatness that they hate us.
We’ll conclude with a story that highlights this point. In 1924, at age 86, the Chofetz Chaim decided that he will be moving to Eretz Yisrael. He went to the government offices to obtain a passport for his travels. At the office, he was asked to show his birth certificate. When he replied that he doesn’t have one, the local Polish authorities asked him to bring 2 witnesses, who remember when he was born, and that will count as a birth certificate. When retelling this episode the Chofetz Chaim noted. ” The 2 witnesses alive who can remember my birth would have to be at least 100 years old. How would I ever find 2 such people?” Explained the Chofetz Chaim, that this is exactly similiar to the claims of לבן. When יעקב confronts him and details how לבן cheated him for 2 decades, while he served him loyally, לבן responds
הבנות בנותי והצאן צאני וכל אשר אתה רואה לי הוא
What kind of answer is this? What לבן is really saying is” Don’t try to rationalize with me. As far as I’m concerned, be glad that I didn’t wipe you out.” Similarly, when the authorities are asking for 2 witnesses who are over 100 years old, what they’re really saying is that as far as they are concerned, you don’t even exist. So don’t look for any rational arguments with us. In fact, just be glad that we let you live.
Such is the reality of גלות. But like יעקב אבינו who established תפלת מעריב for the גלות, as long as we remain connected to Hashem, we will always endure.
Weekly Parsha Shiur 