In her commentary on Chaye Sara, Rina Wolfson (Kol Nefesh) writes:
"Laban loves his family and will do anything for them. But he cannot see beyond
them. He has no sense of communal or social responsibility. When we first
meet Laban he is running. But this is part of his deception, because Laban is
not a man who moves. Laban is static – both physically and in outlook.
By contrast, Abraham, and later Jacob, are constantly moving, and are acutely
aware of their national destiny. If need be, they will put that duty before themselves.
Such altruistic outward-focus is impossible for Laban.
Laban’s love for his own family is not in doubt. But it isn’t enough. A man in
stasis, unaware of his wider community and his responsibilities to it, is ultimately
flawed."
24 November 2008
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