Laban the Arami – Who is Jewish?

Question

Passover Haggadah states:
Enquire what Laban, the Arami, intended to do to our father Jacob.
While Pharaoh decreed the destruction of the males only,
Laban sought to root out the whole.

1. Laban was Rebecca’s brother. So I would assume that he was Jewish
Was Laban Jewish? Why would he want to destroy his own people?

2. In our ancestors’ family tree below, which people were Jewish?
If not Jewish, then what religion was the person?

Thanks.

1 Terah
2 Abraham
+ Sarah (2)
3 Isaac
+ Rebecca (3)
4 Jacob
+ Leah
+ Rachel
4 Esau
2 Nahor
+ Milcah (1)
3 Bethuel
4 Laban
4 Rebecca (3)
2 Haran
3 Lot
3 Milcah (1)
3 Iscah (Sarah) (2)

 

 

0

Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    1.Laban was not Jewish. Rebecca was Jewish by dint of the fact that she married Isaac. Laban was an idol worshiper and the Sages teach that he was completely wicked.

    2. It somewhat depends on how one defines Jewish. If the definition of being Jewish is the obligation to keep the Commandments that is only from Mount Sinai when the Jewish Nation was given the Torah by God. The nascent beginnings of Judaism, of course, began with Abraham but Abraham was not strictly Jewish in a formal fashion. If the definition of being Jewish is from those in the Torah who chose to believe in One God and to keep His Commandments then from your list the only “Jews” are Abraham and Sarah, Issac and Rebecca, Jacob Leah and Rachel, and possibly Lot.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team