The Power of Torah Observance

There is a Rashi that I remember learning as a child, that puzzles me today. Yakov tells Eisav, עם לבן גרתי, that he lived with Lavan.

The commentary of Rashi said that we need to rearrange the word, גרתי, and make it תריג. In essence Yakov was telling his evil brother, that although he lived with the corrupt Lavan, he observed the Taryag, 613 commandments, and was not influenced by Lavan’s profane way of life.

The puzzling part of this commentary, is why should Eisav care that Yakov was still the same innocent and G-d fearing person that he always was. It is possible that he was saying to his brother that if he were to think he was just like his father in-law, it won’t work. Eisav was an expert at outsmarting other that acted like he did. If Yakov became as tricky as Lavan, it would be easy to bring him down.

Instead, Yakov was playing a kind of mind game with his brother. He was hinting that his innocent and saintly personality, outwitted him on two previous occasions. He bought the birthright and received the blessing of the first born.

This was actually a message for the ages for all of Israel’s enemies. When the Jewish people are steadfast in their faith and observance of Mitzvot, no force on earth can defeat us. This is the source of our strength. When we observe the commandments and put our faith in Hashem, we are victorious.

This is why Yakov made a point of telling his brother that he continued to observe the 613 Mitzvot. He was, in effect, telling him that he will lose if he tries to harm him or his family in any way.