In his New Yorker column this week, James Surowiecki points out that people often reject what is beneficial to them when they believe it does not amount to what they deserve. For example, people are likely to turn down even free money if their share does not match their believed fair share. I believe this tendency also expresses itself when we become upset over unmet expectations, which make us more annoyed than when other bad things happen to us.

In this light we can better understand Jacob's request in this week's parasha that God give him food to eat and clothes to wear (Genesis 28:20). Rabbenu Bahya notices how little Jacob asks from God. Jacob's few requests of God match the paucity of expectations of other righteous people. Lower feelings of entitlement lead to greater psychological and spiritual health.