Vayeitzei

At the end of 14 years Yaakov asks permission from Lavan to leave. Lavan responds, “If I have found favor in your eyes, I checked into my divinations and recognized that Hashem blessed me because of you,” as it states “ויברכני ה’ בגללך.”

Rashi explains that when Yaakov came, Lavan’s daughter Rachel was shepherding the sheep since he had no sons. No person would send his daughters in place of sons to shepherd sheep. After Yaakov came to Lavan’s house  the passuk states “וישמע את דברי בני לבן and he heard the words of the sons of Lavan,” which expresses that now Lavan indeed had sons.

Yaakov responds to Lavan, “You know that which I worked for you… the little that was to you before I came has become numerous,” and the passuk follows, “ויברך ה’ אותך לרגלי and Hashem blessed you to my feet.” Rashi explains the ל’ of לרגלי means with; that because of the coming of my feet to you, beracha came to you as well.

Onkelos translates the word לרגלי which literally means to my feet, as בגללי because of me. This is consistent with the same lashon that Lavan used when he spoke to Yaakov and said, ויברכני ה’ בגללך.

Both Onkelos and Rashi understand that Yaakov admits that because of him beracha came to the house of Lavan. Why then does Yaakov respond to Lavan with an indirect lashon of לרגלי and not a clear lashon of בגללי, which would stateויברך ה’ אותך בגללי ?

The Ramban answers that Yaakov responded with לרגלי which means from the time that my feet entered into the house you became benched. He spoke in an indirect way to be modest. The Orchas Tzaddikim brings in the middah of anavah, modesty: one who is healthy and well and has parnasah should think to himself that Hashem caused it all and he is undeserving. “What am I before Hashem who is great, exalted, and is everlasting, whereas I am low and will not remain forever. There is no limit for the amount of good deeds which I owe Hashem to repay Him for all His kindness.”

Although Yaakov knew that all of Lavan’s success was due to his own credit, he kept it silent so as not to take credit. Yaakov placed Lavan’s success upon Hashem,  and not on himself.

May we learn from Yaakov Avinu’s anavah to recognize that all our beracha is from Hashem and we are undeserving, and do our best to repay Him with our good deeds.