Parshat Vayeitzei
Rabbi Avrohom Gordimer

Parshas Vayeitzei marks the beginning of Yaakov Avinu's lengthy separation from Yitzchak Avinu. Rashi (on 28:9) quotes Chazal's statement that Yaakov was later penalized for remaining distanced from his father, for Yosef was - in turn - separated from Yaakov for 22 years after being sold by his brothers.

Chazal obviously felt that Yaakov could have returned earlier and chose not to do so, for - were he totally unable to return to Yitzchak - he would not have been punished for remaining away. (See Rashi from Gemara and Medrash on 30:25.) Why, then, did Yaakov linger in Padan Aram and elsewhere for so long? Was there any reason for him to delay his return home to his father and birthplace?

Each of the Avos became a leader and contributed a new facet to Avodas Hashem by undergoing trials and struggles. The Ten Tests of Avrohom are the most noted, for they made Avrohom into whom he was. So, too, the Torah attests that Yitzchak became great after Avrohom's death when he lived in B'er Lachai Ro'i and later in G'rar. The greatest growth of Yitzchak as a leader occurred in G'rar, when he was out of his element and struggled. It was due to such tribulation that Yitzchak prophesied and received God's assurances. Likewise, Yaakov knew that he had to follow his father's and grandfather's footsteps by facing challenges in an alien environment in order to attain leadership qualities and thereby be equipped to safeguard the Mesorah and its bearers; this would require him to enter into a deeper relationship with God and enable him to countenance the Shechinah. And this is exactly what happened.

Furthermore, Yaakov and Yosef represent the Jew in exile - in golus. Their lives away from their homeland posed all types of obstacles to guarding the Torah's values and maintaining the viability of the Jewish People. Their examples serve as permanent lessons for Jews throughout the millennia of golus. The formula for growing as a Jew in golus was part of Yaakov's contribution to Avodas Hashem, and it needed to be created in Padan Aram and the other alien venues where Yaakov was faced with problems and overcame them by clinging to God and Torah. It is for this reason that Yaakov tarried in Padan Aram by offering and readily agreeing to remain with Lavan as a worker for 20 years (as part of three separate deals), and then delaying his return home for another 2 years afterwards.

We are warned by Chazal not to test our commitment to Torah, and we pray daily that we avoid being in a negative environment and under adverse influences. Nevertheless, the greatness of our Avos developed out of such circumstances, and this is why Yaakov agreed to stay in exile for so long.

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