Genesis 32:24 says that Jacob sent all of his possessions across the Yabbok river. The next verse begins with the words, "Jacob remained alone" (ויותר יעקב לבדו.) The Talmud (B. Hullin 91a) says that Jacob stayed back so that he could collect some small containers that he had forgotten to pack. Where does the Talmud get this rather fanciful interpretation? The Torah Temimah suggests that it is reading the word levado (by itself) as if it were lecado (for his jar.) In Hebrew, these words look very similar, as the letters ב and כ look almost identical.
Why would Jacob bother to risk his life and stay behind to pack up some small items? Why not just leave them behind? The Talmud says that tzaddikim (the righteous) care more about their money than their health. Yes, you read that right. How can this be? The Talmud says that the righteous carefully defend their worldly possessions because they never engage in theft or embezzlement of any kind. Because they never benefit from ill-gotten gain, they must zealously defend the few possessions they do have.
My question: What does this Talmudic teaching say about religious leaders who hobnob with the rich and powerful and dress themselves in riches fit for a king when then should be following the laws of the King?
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