By Rabbi Naftoly Bier
In פרק ל“א, פס‘ מ“ב it says, “If the G-d of my fathers, the G-d of Avraham and the ‘dread’ of Yitzchak had not been with me, you surely would have send me emptyhanded; G-d saw my wretchedness (or plight) and the toil of my hands, so He admonished you last night” (this is referring to פסוק כ“ד , “but G-d came to to Lavan
the Arami in a dream by night and said to him, ‘Beware lest you speak with Yaakov either good or bad’.”)
There are two ideas being articulated by Yaakov Avinu. One, that if not for the merit of his father,
Yitzchok Avinu, and his grandfather, AvrohomAvinu, who taught the world about Hashem, that he would have had all of his money and possessions stolen by Lavan. But his family was saved due to his unflagging dedication to honestly doing his work, despite all the cheating that the sleazy, corrupt Lavan had done. If we would ask what’s more important, family or possessions, we would obviously answer family.
If we would ask what is more significant, working diligently and honestly, or the fact that Avraham Avinu and Yitzchok Avinu spread the idea of monotheism to tens of thousands, we would say the latter.
But surprisingly, the Torah tells us the opposite. Yaakov tells us that his family was protected due
to his diligence while his wealth was due to the merits of his ancestors!
Even more perplexing is that the Medrash Rabbah quotes different ( תנאים (פרק ע“ד, י“ב that
the merit mentioned in the beginning of the פסוק is either: 1) קידוש השם , sanctification of Hashem;
אמונה (2 ; or 3) Learning Torah. it follows according to these opinions that diligent, honest work was a greater
merit for Yaakov Avinu than those three. How is it possible? After all, we are taught that תלמוד
תורה is the greatest מצוה
(ותלמוד תורה כנגד כולם) and the greatest achievement; (כי אדם לעמל יולד (איוב , the greatest ,עמל
responsibility, is learning Torah. (סנהדרין צט:י) More so the מדרש תהילים פרק קט“ז says, “Hashem
says, it is difficult in My eyes to see Avraham die… to see Yitzchak… to see Yaakov who toiled in Torah his whole life…” The Medrash defines Yaakov’s essence and achievement by his !עמלות בתורה
In תהילים י“ט , the מדרש explains the phrases ‘ עדות ה נאמנה and תורת ה‘ תמימה to mean, “When is the Torah
perfect? When it comes forth from a mouth that is perfect (honest). When is the Torah ‘trustworthy’?, when it is articulated by one who is trustworthy.” The מדרש is teaching us that for one to truly attain a connection to Torah, that one is gifted by Hashem to learn, understand, and inculcate His wisdom, is only if one has absolute integrity.
Yaakov Avinu’s mission in life was first and foremost to learn Torah – ויעקב… יושב אהלים – Yaakov sat in the tents; he studied Torah diligently. But for it to become part and parcel of him, for it to become our spiritual genetics forever, for it to truly define Klal Yisroel, necessitated that it be transferred from Hashem to a repository whose foundation is integrity and honesty.
Yaakov Avinu was tricked one hundred times by his villainous, nefarious father-in-law. Why didn’t he just leave? Yaakov Avinu understood that his life mission at that juncture was to eternally create the paradigm for all of humanity of the ultimate, essential, unequivocal definition of truth and integrity. He therefore labored for six years, all the while becoming the exemplar of honesty despite all that was transpiring. “By the heat of the day, the
cold of the night”… no excuses that my ”boss” is a crook, I nevertheless have to be judicious and committed to my work.” Yes, his Torah was the true לימוד התורה , due to his אמת . His purpose in this world was to teach humanity the irreversible, critical, indispensable foundation to all true successful living – unmitigated honesty.
Yes, every person can attain spiritual greatness, when one works diligently, with true integrity, using all of their talents judiciously without wasting time or lacking full effort. Yaakov’s family was saved due to his incredible honesty and diligence! It’s no wonder that by נעילה on יום כיפור , we not once but twice express that the primary focus is to be honest! .למען נחדל מעושק ידינו
