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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Vayechi
Yakov & Yosef, it begins with the word "Vayechi."
We are all familiar with the idea that "the
righteous, even in death, are considered alive,"
for their influence & effect may carry on far
beyond their years. This lesson we learned way
back in parshat Chaye Sara – literally, "the life
of Sara"- which was centered exclusively on her death & burial.
But something seems strange here. There are 6
different parshiyot in the Torah that are named
for individuals: Noach, (Chaye) Sara; Yitro,
Pinchas, Balak & Korach. It is certainly a great
z’chut to have your name pronounced by millions
for thousands of years! So I ask you: why is this
closing sedra of ours not called "Vayechi
Yakov?!" After all, Chaye Sara does not begin
with the word "Sara;" in fact, it is the third
word in the sedra, while Yakov’s name is the
second in this Sedra! It seems that Yakov’s name
is almost being purposely left off. Why?
We have a rather dramatic tradition that "Yakov
did not die." This is loosely based on the fact
that the pasuk says, "he expired & was gathered
to his people;" rather than saying the more
common "he died," as it says about Avraham &
Yitzchak. That is why we have the popular saying
& song, "Od Avinu Chai, our father still lives."
I want to suggest that, while all the Avot &
Imahot left their mark on future generations,
there is something special about Yakov. Yakov
represents the totality of Am Yisrael; he was not
only the most prominent of the Avot, he was
literally the "father of our country," via the
name Yisrael that is both personal & national.
Yakov had the notable distinction of giving rise
to all Jews & has the bracha of all his offspring
remaining connected to the Jewish People. No, his
children were not always perfect: Yehuda had his
questionable tryst with Tamar, Yosef was sold
into slavery, Efraim would lead a "breakaway"
kingdom, Binyamin’s tribe was involved in the
horrible "pilegesh B’Giva" incident & so forth.
But - there is no Yishmael or Esav in Yakov’s
lineage, no evidence of his offspring deserting
the fold en masse and joining a new religion.
Therefore it seems to me that "Vayechi" is
referring to much more than just Yakov, & so the
word stands alone. Tying it to Yakov would be
limiting it, for "Vayechi" encompasses all the
millions of Jews through the centuries who
proudly identify as descendants of this
patriarch, who cling tenaciously to their faith
in the most challenging of situations. They might
stray from a total observance of the Mitzvot,
they might even be a Jew "in name only," but
that, too, is a merit in their favor, if they maintain some connection.
There is a story about two young boys trying to
escape the Chevron massacre in 1929. They climbed
a tree & were hiding there when a group of Arabs
ran by & saw them. One said, "look at those Arab
boys in the tree!" One of the boys yelled out,
"we’re not Arabs, we are Jews!" They were killed,
but they were killed as Jews, much like Daniel
Pearl, who proclaimed, "I am a Jew!" just before
he was murdered by terrorists.
Am Yisrael lives & it can never be destroyed as
long as we refuse to relinquish our title as Jews, as Bnei Yisrael/Yakov.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
