Mine Mine Mine - It's All Mine !!

If there is one striking difference between the wicked Lavan and the humble Yaakov it would be this, taking credit.

After twenty years of hard labor and, arguably the first fertility clinic in the world ( for sheep ) Yaakov amasses great wealth. By his own admission, he was on call round the clock and always took responsibility for any loss. Nothing was chalked up to “normal wear and tear”. Even the proliferation of livestock, at which he worked quite diligently, he describes as having been given to him by Hashem [ see Bereishis 30:9-12]. Yaakov epitomizes the middah of realizing that all comes from Hashem.

Lavan is a stark contrast. He pays lip service to believing in Hashem ( when he clears the house of idolatry in order to host Eliezer ) and even pretends to value other peoples contributions [ see Bereishis 29:15 ]. But the real Lavan comes oozing to the surface when he chases Yaakov and Co. down after their hasty departure. He says, “Your wives - are mine, your children – mine, your wealth – mine … everything you have you got from me” [Bereishis 31:43]. What is the defining principle of Lavan’s wickedness ? Not the desire for pleasure, and not the desire for honor ( he has those in spades, though ) But the driving force behind his Lavan’ness – is him, just him. He is so self centered that the world revolves around him and all the good that happens must be because of him.

This is a powerful lesson for us as to the extent that self centeredness can reach. I can cheat my friend with impunity if all I care about is my end of the bargain. I can even worship idols – because after all the important thing is how they make me feel.

Let us take this shabbos of serious contrast between the selflessness of Yaakov and the selfishness of Lavan to look inside ourselves and chase away any semblance of egocentrism.

Hatzlacha !!