R’ Simcha Zissel Ziv
In an undated letter to his son, R’ Simcha Zissel Ziv z”l (died 1898) pointed out how great Lavan’s spiritual potential was and how low he stooped nevertheless. Lavan must have been agreat man, for the Torah mentions his blessings not once, but twice.
Before his sister Rivkah left to marry Yitzchak, he blessed her (24:60), “May you be myriads of thousands.” And, the Torah records that he blessed his daughters before parting from them (32:1).
Lavan said to Yaakov (31:29), “It is in my power to do you harm.” And, since Hashem had to appear to Lavan in a dream and warn him not to harm Yaakov, we can assume that Lavan could have harmed our Patriarch.
This also indicates Lavan’s greatness. [Presumably, only a great person could harm Yaakov.] Nevertheless, Lavan demeaned himself in ways that he never would have had he known that the Torah would record them.
These statements reveal his true character. He said to Yaakov, for example (29:14), “Nevertheless, you are my flesh and blood!” At first glance, this is a praiseworthy sentiment, but what did Lavan mean by the word, “Nevertheless”?
He meant, “I would have preferred that my relatives bring me gifts; nevertheless, you are my flesh and blood, so I will take you in.” (Even so, Rashi notes, Lavan immediately put Yaakov to work as a shepherd.)
Lavan was great enough to acknowledge to Yaakov (30:27), “Hashem blessed me because of you.” The same Lavan said (31:43), “The sheep are my sheep, and everything that you see is mine.”
Lavan observed the laws of family purity even more strictly than we do (see Ramban to 31:35), yet he frantically searched for his lost idols.
What is the lesson that we can learn from Lavan? It is: “One deficiency can ruin a great deal of good” (Kohelet 9:18). Lavan’s greatness did not save him from falling to a very low level. (Ohr Rashaz No. 143; also printed in Chochmah U’mussar No. 106)
The verse from Kohelet quoted above can also be translated, “One sinner can ruin a great deal of good.” R’ Simcha Zissel writes: This is why Chazal say, “Distance yourself from a bad neighbor.”
To what may this be likened? To one person who carries a deadly illness. All alone, he can wipe out an entire city. The same is true of a person who is spiritually ill. (Chochmah U’mussar No. 231)
Reprinted from the Parshat Vayeishev 5786 email of Yedidye Hirtenfeld’s whY I Matter parsha sheet for the Young Israel of Midwood in Brooklyn.
