GEN1321 Tending Laban’s flock, Jacob exerts himself to the utmost for him and never idles on his time.   When a mishap occurs, Jacob never shifts the blame, but instead makes good the loss even when he is not legally required to do so.  After fourteen years in his employ, Jacob decides to take leave of Laban, leading to the following dialogue between them (Genesis 30:27-30).   By ascribing his good fortune to Jacob’s piety rather than to his diligence, Laban, notes R. Samson R. Hirsch (Germany, 1808-1888), fails to recognize Jacob’s integrity.   R. Hirsch’s insight provides us with an understanding of why Jacob decides to remain in Laban’s employ despite his exploited status until now.   Jacob considered it his mission to perfect in himself the character trait of integrity.   His failure to make an impact on Laban proved to Jacob that he had not yet achieved the highest level of integrity.   Jacob therefore redoubled his efforts to display a level of honesty that would make his integrity objectively evident.   Toward this end, he proposes a plan for compensation in which he deliberately exposes himself to an objectively verifiable standard: All the spotted and mottled lambs will be removed from Laban’s flock, leaving in his (Jacob’s) care only the single-colored lambs.   Jacob’s wage will consist of the mottled and spotted goats born from the single-colored herd.   (Genesis 30:33) CASE 25