Obedience in advance – Vayyishlach
A Hebrew rhyme says Im Lavan gar’ti v’taryag mitzvot shamar’ti – “With Laban I dwelt and I kept the 613 commandments”.
Laban had little connection with God and religion. It was a triumph for Jacob to keep the mitzvot in his house.
It happens today even more: people who keep up religious observance regardless of the indifference or active opposition of the family.
The Jacob story has an extra problem – why keep commandments which were not yet officially given?
Some people have the instinct to discern the will of God even without being told – truly a high rank in spirituality.
