ציטירנדיקער פּירוש אויף בראשית 30:36

Yonah sets the model for Jews’ high ambitions despite seemingly impossible obstacles that stand in the way of achieving their dreams. Perhaps this phenomenon explains Yaakov Avinu’s highly improbable, yet successful, bovine venture despite the fact that Lavan had provided him with the lowest quality livestock as his venture capital (Bereishit 30:36 with Rashi). Yaakov’s strategy of peeled streaks placed before the sheep when they drank seems to have no scientific basis and yet, despite the severe handicaps Yaakov Avinu still emerged as an enormous financial success. I suggest the reason for Yaakov Avinu’s success is that when Jews have faith in the most dire of circumstances Hashem often manipulates the situation for us to attain great achievements. It seems that Hashem rewards Jews for harboring high ambitions. After all, the destiny of our people is to achieve high levels of success.

ששה משמותם על האבן האחת, "Six of their names on the one stone, etc." Why did the Torah use the unusual expression משמותם, "of their names," instead of saying simply ששה שמות, "six names," etc.? Besides, the word הנותרים, "the remaining ones," is quite unnecessary as we all know that there were only a total of twelve tribes. We are therefore forced to conclude that the adjective "the remaining ones," implies that the latter six tribes were inferior to the the first six. We find something similar after the death of Nadav and Avihu, where the Torah describes Eleazar and Ittamar as the "remaining" sons of Aaron (Leviticus 10,12). Our sages in Yuma 87 describe the word הנותרים as referring to something inferior, using the word in Leviticus as their example. Bereshit Rabbah 73,9 discusses Genesis 30,36 where the Torah speaks about "the remaining flocks of Laban," and also describes the word "remaining" as referring to something inferior. If the meaning of the word הנותרים in our verse were to indicate that these tribes were inferior, this is most surprising seeing that the Torah underlines that they were recorded כתולדותם, "in the order of their (their founder's) birth." Why would the sons born to Jacob later be inferior to those born to him earlier? This seems especially unlikely seeing that Joseph was Jacob's favorite and is known as "Joseph the righteous." How could he be considered "inferior?" Moreover, we find that amongst the first 6 names listed are sons of the maidservants whereas several of the names inscribed on the second stone were of sons born by Jacob's true wives!

וירדוף אחריו, “he chased after him. According to Rashi, the distance that Yaakov with all his sheep and cattle had covered in seven days, Lavan, riding, had been able to cover in a single day. Yaakov had taken seven days to get from Padan Arom to Har Gilead. Different commentators disagree on how long it took Yaakov. Considering that we have been told in Genesis 30,36, that he had put three days walk between himself and Lavan, he had only travelled for 4 days before Lavan caught up with him. At any rate Lavan’s catching up with Yaakov is not surprising due to his riding either on camels or donkeys, and not being slowed down by animals and other heavy luggage.