This weeks Parsha is called Vayechi, which means "he lived." The name of the Parsha refers to how Jacob lived the last years of his life in Egypt, as the very first verse references his last 17 years there.
We are always taught that the name of the Parsha is all inclusive of the Parsha itself, teaching us what we will learn within.
This seems strange when we think about the fact that the Parsha called VaYechireferring to Yakov’s life in Egypt in fact talks mostly about Yakov’s death and the surrounding events. Wouldn’t you think the Parsha would refer to the actual life of Yakov?!
In the Parsha, following Yakov’s deliverance of his final blessings to his children and grandchildren, Yakov breathes his final breath and “expires,” as the Torah describes it. All of his descendants, members of the Egyptian rule and more escort Yakov’s remains to the Holy Land for burial in the Cave of Machpela.
However, the Torah never actually states that Yakov died! What is this all meant to teach?
Interestingly, the name of this Parsha is very simila to that of a few weeks ago when we read Parshat Chayei Sarah – the Life of Sarah. That Parsha is called the Life of Sarah and again, talks mostly about her death and the following events.
I was explained in reference to Parshat Chayei Sarah that true life is judged by our offsprings. Sarah truly lived, as can be seen by the child, Isaac that she raised. She left a great legacy, and through Isaac, continued to live.
Sarah lived many years amongst immoral, non believers. The fact that she was able to impart on Isaac the Jewish identity that she did shows that she really lived.
Yakov lived his last 17 years in Egypt, a land known for its lack of morals, its indecency, and many trials and tribulations to true faith found everywhere. Yet, Yakov was able to leave his descendants with a true sense of Jewish identity and pride. His descendants were the next link in the chain that has followed until today.
Therefore, when the Torah refers to Yakov’s stopping to breathe, rather than him dying, its a telling of the true life that he lived. The truest ever. In fact the Talmud even offers that in reality, Jacob in fact did not die!
Furthermore, as we shall see, Jacob's death signaled the beginning of the descent that would conclude with the physical enslavement of all his descendants. The fact that the Jewish people remained loyal to Jacob's heritage even under such antagonistic circumstances is further proof that his death was the truest indication that not only was he was "alive" during his lifetime, but continued to remain so afterwards, as well.
The lessons we learn from the Parsha each week are lessons for today, not lessons of yesterday. We must apply them to our daily lives in the current, and not view them as a matter of the past. Keeping that in mind, the most prominent lesson of parashat Vayechi is that we can perform our Jewish duties, just as Sarah, Yakov, Yosef and so many before us weathered the odds of their surrounding and the trials and tribulations they offered.
The challenges of the modern world are indeed tricky, but we can beat them if we remain committed to the basic guidelines of Judaism and raise our children in said fashion!
It is thus fitting that the first book of the Torah ends with the message ofVayechi, "he lived." As the page turns from the groundwork laid by our ancestors and we begin the journey of our people becoming a nation – the chosen nation – it is vital that we recognize where this nation comes from. And where the life - the connection with G-d and Torah – actually comes from.
Parashat Vayechi reminds us that the Book of Genesis is not just a good book with stories of our forefathers who have since passed. In fact, they are alive, truly alive, and it is only by us identifying as Jewish people that they remain alive!
Lets continue to live and teach others to live!
No comments:
Post a Comment