Lifnim Mishuras HaDin: Yesterday By Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser

R’ Moshe Chaim Luzatto, likewise, in the fourth chapter of Mesilas Yesharim, cites that Yaakov was brought to task over the fact that he hid Dinah from Eisav. The act is categorized as “lamas meirei’eihu chesed – he holds back kindness from his fellow” (Iyov 6:14). Yaakov was certainly not permitted to arrange a marriage between Eisav and Dinah, as Eisav was a mumar, and Yaakov was prohibited from giving his daughter in marriage to an am ha’aretz. Moreover, if he wanted Dinah to marry someone else, Yaakov was certainly not obligated to give Dinah to Eisav in marriage. Nevertheless, notwithstanding the fact that Yaakov acted in accordance with the Torah (as stated in Pesachim 49b) he did not proceed lifnim mishuras hadin – go further than the halacha requires. If he would have allowed Dinah to marry Eisav, he would have performed an extraordinary chesed for his brother Eisav, by offering him the opportunity to improve. What is more, Yaakov failed to be pained by the reality that his brother Eisav was a rosho and he, Yaakov, could have improved his brother’s lot by permitting him to marry his daughter, Dinah.