21 Nov VAYEITZEI: THE PARNASSAH TRAP

Chazal (Pirkei Avos
3:16) say, “A trap is
spread out before all
people.” The Baal
Shem Tov zt’l
explains that the trap is
the pursuit of
parnassah. The Maor
Einayim (Vaeschanan)
clarifies that just as
bate is used to catch
animals, the quest of
parnassah captures
many people into a
trap and distances
them from Hashem.
The trap comes in many forms, and we
will discuss some of them.
One aspect of the trap is stealing. As the
Gemara (Bava Basra 165.) states, “Most
people sin with theft…”
The Mesilas Yesharaim (11) explains,
“Although most people don’t actually
steal, nevertheless, most people
experience the ‘taste of theft’ in their

business.” People are moreh heter; they
think they are permitted to cut corners,
etc., and they don’t realize that these
leniencies might fall under the umbrella
of geneivah.
Chazal (Sanhedrin 8.) state that Hakadosh
Baruch Hu says to resha’im, “It isn’t
merely that you steal, but you also
obligate Me to return the stolen item to its
rightful owner.” As it states (Derech Eretz
Zuta 3), “If you take what isn’t yours,
yours will be taken away from you.”
The Chofetz Chaim (Shaar HaTevunah
11) explains, “Whoever steals is a rasha
and a fool because his theft won’t grant
him more than what was decreed for him
on Rosh Hashanah.” Therefore, whatever
he gained from the theft will be taken
away from him and returned to its rightful
owner.
The Chofetz Chaim explains that this
happened to Lavan. He stole from Yaakov
many times, as it states (31:7), “He
changed my salary tens of times.” But
Lavan didn’t gain from it. Everything

Lavan stole was
returned to Yaakov.
Yaakov saw in his
dream, malachim
carrying away
Lavan’s sheep and
bringing them into
Yaakov’s territory.
How could
malachim do that? It
seems like theft!
Hashem explained
to Yaakov, “I saw
everything Lavan
did to you.” He stole from you; therefore,
I have to return it all to you.
Lavan tricked Yaakov Avinu many times.
After working seven years for Rachel,
Lavan gave him Leah and made him
work another seven years for Rachel.
Rashi (29:30) writes, “Yaakov worked
the second set of years honestly as he did
before, although he was tricked into
them.” He didn’t fall into the trap of
parnassah. His honesty in business was
impeccable.

Towards the end of the parashah (31:38-
41), Yaakov expressed that he worked
honestly for Lavan for twenty years. If a
sheep was stolen or killed by wild
animals, Yaakov would repay him with
his own money. He guarded over the
sheep in the heat of the day and the cold
at night, with little sleep.
And Hashem repaid his honesty, for
Yaakov became very wealthy.