Parshat VaYeitzei

Rashi (28:11) points out that Yaakov stopped at Yeshivat Sheim V’Eiver for fourteen years on his flight from Eisav to his uncle Lavan’s house in Aram. (By the way, check out the world famous Emes L’Yaakov for a very interesting Chinuch point on this very idea. Why did Yaakov go to this Yeshiva?)

This seems to be a strange stopover at first glance. How would the Torah that he received at Yeshivat Sheim V’Eiver contribute to his survival and success in the house of Lavan, the master liar and cheat of his generation? To meet Lavan, Yaakov probably would have been better suited to train in different forms of legal, commercial, and worldly pursuits. Studying Torah is nice, but how does it prepare one for the real world? This question is heard today in thousands of Jewish households and is a most vexing one. Our world today is one of Lavan compounded. How does Torah study and Torah knowledge help us in solving our problems and difficulties, in facing down our enemies?

Yet, we find that on the whole Yaakov was quite successful in the house of Lavan. He acquires his wives there and his children are born and raised there. He becomes extremely wealthy in spite of all of Lavan’s efforts to cheat him out of his just payments and wages. What courses of study did he take and master in Yeshivat Sheim and Eiver that enabled him to so succeed?

Rabbi Berel Wein answers by challenging us to reassess the hopes and goals of a Torah education in one’s life. Most people, especially those who view it from the outside looking in, think that Torah education is purely a matter of material covered, of knowledge of facts, of understanding complex and difficult Talmudical concepts and statements. In truth it is all of this, but it is also much more. A proper Torah education, a study course at Yeshivat Sheim V’Eiver, is meant to impart life-long values and a worldview in which to fit the events of one’s life in a proper and moral fashion. One has to learn how to deal effectively with Lavan, but one also has to be very cautious not to become Lavan in the process.

Self-defense and protection of one’s own interests is part of the Torah value system. But pleasantness, sensitivity, faith in Hashem’s justice and promises, and a willingness to tolerate and accommodate others (even unpleasant others) are also a part of the value system of the Torah.

Yaakov entered Yeshivat Sheim V’Eiver to absorb the Torah value system that would allow him to survive in the house of Lavan. One of the most difficult tasks that face Jewish society today is to remain a kingdom of priests and a holy people even when struggling with the Lavans of the world for our very existence. Our schools have to teach Torah values and not be satisfied merely with knowledge, grades, and test scores.

(I saw this idea on the Torah.org site)