Laban

Laban begins by seeming like a friend. He offers Jacob refuge when he is in flight from Esau, who has vowed to kill him. Yet it turns out that his behaviour is less generous than self-interested and calculating.

Laban was truly family! Yet, his anti-Semitism was legendary. In other words, attempts to break down the walls between Jews and non-Jews by assimilating and intermarrying will not fix anti-Semitism.

Does Judaism truly have something to say about every aspect of our life, or are the rabbis who claim to have an opinion on everything simply intrusive and controlling? Should rabbis just stick to teaching Torah?

Jacob was the prototypical white-bearded Jew from the "old country." Laban was a worldly man and a crafty businessman. And Laban had some take-it-from-the-expert advice for his son-in-law

Jacob Leaves Laban, Laban Instigates Esau to Make War on His Brother, Jacob’s Strategy, Jacob Wrestles with an Angel, Jacob’s Reconciliation with Esau, Jacob’s Arrival in Canaan, Rachel’s Death

The Price of a Wife, Jacob’s Children, Jacob’s Wealth

Rebecca Sends Jacob to Haran, Jacob and Eliphaz, Jacob’s Dream, Jacob’s Vow, Jacob’s Arrival in Haran

Eliezer’s Mission, Eliezer’s Prayer, Rebekah at the Well, Rebekah and Isaac Marries

Jacob's declaration -- "I sojourned with Laban, but did not learn from his evil ways" -- should not be understood as a boast but rather as a lament. Jacob is bemoaning the fact that he did not learn to do good the way Laban did evil...