Parshat Vayeitzei
Rabbi Avrohom Gordimer

The Haggadah proclaims, "Go and learn what Lavan the Aramean sought to do to Yaakov our father, for Pharaoh only decreed against the males, whereas Lavan sought to uproot everything..." What is the significance of this statement? There is no indication in the text of Parshas Vayetzei that Lavan attempted to kill the entire Jewish people; on the contrary, he pursued Yaakov to reclaim stolen idols and perhaps to harm Yaakov (but not Yaakov's family) and restore his connection to Rochel, Leah and their children. (See 31:26-28.) What, therefore, is the basis for Haggadah's reference to Lavan's plot to uproot everything?

The Haggadah, indeed, does not claim that Lavan intended to kill the entire Beis Yisroel. Rather, Lavan wished to spiritually exterminate the Jews. Lavan's plan was for Yaakov and family to remain with him indefinitely, so as to lose their independent religious identity. This is precisely why Lavan kept elongating Yaakov's work and delaying his departure. This also explains why Lavan was careful to try to subject Yaakov to an oath in the name if "the god of Nachor" (idolatry), and Lavan affirmed that the locus of their treaty should be called "Yegar Sahadusa", rather than Gal-Ed, so as to impose his religion and culture on Yaakov (31:47, 53).

The Haggadah attests that the destructive plans of Lavan were worse than those of Pharaoh. We must strengthen our awareness not only of physical dangers to our people, but of spiritual ones as well.

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