Parshas Vayeitze (5761)

Bs”d
Parshas Vayeitze (5761)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

One of the greatest perplexities in the Chumash is the great deceit Lavan put over on Yaakov Avinu; presenting him with Leah instead of the agreed upon Rochel.  This seems like something that anyone could have prevented to say nothing of Yaakov Avinu the great pillar of the wisdom of Torah.  The question is augmented considering the fact that Yaakov Avinu suspected this maneuver from Lavan—as Chazal relate was his intention in specifying, “Rochel Bitcha HaKetana”.  The question is so awesome that we are uncomfortable and almost ashamed to express it.  It seems it would have been reasonable for Yaakov Avinu to make more of an effort not to be the victim of Lavan’s trickery.

Lavan and his little trick were a success as he managed to slip Leah in as the Kallah.  And was he happy, this probably was the most joyous wedding with Lavan doing a “kezatzke” on the table.  DANCE LAVAN DANCE!  Lavan was the winner and Yaakov such a loser.  What came out from this great “loss”?  A Reuven, Shimon, Levi,Yehuda, Yissachar and Zevulun.  DANCE LAVAN DANCE!  The Kohanim, the Leviim, the lomdai Torah and their supporters, and Malchus.

Yaakov obviously was to be married also to Leah, to produce this major part of Klal Yisroel.  These crucial tribes were to come out from them, something which was hidden from Yaakov Avinu.

One of the most difficult areas in Avodas HaShem is the balance between bitachon, placing our confidence in and reliance on HaKadosh Baruch Hu and the amount of effort that we are expected to expend.  This difficulty lies in both action and the theoretical understanding.

The Brisker Rav ztz”l had a reputation of being nervous by nature.  Once during a bomb raid in Brisk he was caught together with a great Chasidishe Rebbe in a fragile bomb shelter.  If there would have been a “direct hit” it wouldn’t have afforded them any protection and would have been fatal for them.  The Brisker Rav had a completely calm and peaceful disposition.  The Rebbe couldn’t help remarking that is was so unlike the Brisker Rav’s usual nervous self.  The Brisker Rav replied: “People have a false impression that I have a nervous nature.  The responsibility to judge correctly the amount of effort that is required in different situations makes me nervous.  In this situation there is absolutely nothing we can do and no decisions to make; just to be calm and rely completely on Hashem.”

Yaakov Avinu, our source of emes, our great light and pillar of Torah, was confronted with the great ordeal to decide what the parameters of his own efforts should be.  He concluded: include in the marriage contract, Rochel Bitcho HaKetana;  no radar, no closed circuit T.V., and no candles.  This was the psak of daas Torah.  Think of the consequences if Yaakov would have realized that it was Leah; DANCE LAVAN DANCE!  Because of his confidence in HaShem, we have Torah, Kehuna and Malchus.

Hashem show us the way.