The Haggadah proclaims, "Go and learn what Lavan the Aramean sought to do to Yaakov our father, for Pharaoh only decreed against the males, whereas Lavan sought to uproot everything..."

What is the significance of this statement? There is no indication in the text of Parshas Vayeitzei that Lavan attempted to kill the entire Jewish People; on the contrary, Lavan pursued Yaakov in order to claim animals and stolen idols, and perhaps to also harm Yaakov - but not anyone else. (V. Bereshis 31:26-28.) What, therefore, is the basis for the Haggadah's reference to Lavan's plot to uproot everything?

The Haggadah, indeed, does not claim that Lavan intended to kill the entire Beis Yisroel. Rather, Lavan wished to spiritually exterminate the Jews. Lavan's plan was for Yaakov and his family to remain with him in Padan Aram indefinitely, so that they would lose their independent religious identity. This is precisely why Lavan kept prolonging Yaakov's work and delaying his departure. This also explains why Lavan was careful to try to subject Yaakov to an oath in the name if "the god of Nachor" (idolatry), and why Lavan affirmed that the locus of their treaty should be called "Yegar Sahadusa", rather than Gal'ed, so as to impose his religion and culture on Yaakov (ibid. 31:47, 53).

The Haggadah attests that the destructive plans of Lavan were worse than those of Pharaoh. We must be extremely vigilant not only regarding physical dangers to our people, but regarding spiritual dangers as well.