|
Sefer Bereshis
Parashas Vayishlach
by
Rabbi Beryl Glaser
In
this week's parsha, Yaakov
Avinu transports his family over the river Yabok, then returns alone for something unstated. Our Rabbis
understand that he went back to retrieve some small, inconsequential
vessels. Despite the dangers of again transversing
the river, all by himself, Yaakov felt it necessary to collect these
vessels. From here, our Rabbis in Gemara Hullin
state that the possessions of a righteous man are as dear to him as his
bodily safety - the reason being that they are scrupulous not to steal from
others. In other words, a righteous man like Yaakov is extremely careful
not to take what is not rightfully his. Whatever he does possess has been
honestly acquired and is thus very precious.
Let
us understand this even further.
We
relate to others the way we relate to ourselves. Also, we relate to others'
possessions the way we relate to our own possessions. Someone who doesn't
place value on his own inconsequential possessions will most probably not
respect anyone else's small possessions, and unwittingly take or abuse
another person's things. On the other hand, someone who values all his
possessions, regarding everything he owns as a blessing from the A-mighty,
will probably treat another person's things in the same manner.
Yaakov's
main concern was to distance himself from the sin
of theft. Our Rabbis teach that the desire for theft is innate in mankind.
It takes great effort to distance oneself from all the detailed rules of
theft. Yaakov's insight was to place value on his own possessions, no
matter how small, in order to properly respect his neighbor's possesions.
Back to table of contents
|
