I Have Sojourned ("Garti") with Laban (Gen. 32:5)
Comments Rashi, "The letters of 'garti' are the same as 'taryag' [613, the number of the Torah's commandments]. Jacob declared, 'With the wicked Laban I sojourned, but the 613 commandments I observed.'" With the word "garti" Jacob also implied that throughout his experiences with Laban he viewed himself as a ger (stranger), never even once considering himself "at home." Laban is symbolic of worldly affairs. When a Jew feels that he is only a "stranger" in this world, whereas his true "home" is in matters of Torah, the physical realm does [not] contradict or oppose his spirituality. (Likutei Sichot)
Reprinted from the Parashat Vayishlach 5762/2001 edition of L’Chaim