VOLUME 113 NUMBER 9
Teves 3, 5785
January 3, 2025
Parshas Vayigash
Candlelighting Time 4:30

            The entire region was suffering from a famine and the house of Yaakov was no different. He had sent his sons to Egypt to procure food but tragedy had struck when they encountered the viceroy who was visibly cruel to them. Of course, they didn’t realize that he was their brother Yosef and had recognized them and therefore he had a plan in mind of which they were unaware. Nonetheless, he kept Shimon until they would return with their youngest brother Binyomin. Yaakov was disturbed by this situation and refused to allow Binyomin to go with his brothers until there was no choice. Therefore, as the narrative continues, eventually Yosef revealed his identity to his siblings and they returned to Yaakov informing him that his beloved son Yosef was indeed alive and thriving as the viceroy in Egypt and they began their descent to Egypt to save themselves from starving. En route, Yaakov stopped before leaving Eretz Yisroel and offered sacrifices to Hashem in the name of his father Yitzchok. The Midrash questions why he didn’t also include Avrohom his grandfather?

            Maharil Diskin cites another Midrash that since his father Yitzchok was allured by food he would also be captivated by food. Certainly, a very cryptic statement since we know that both Yitzchok and Yaakov were extremely righteous individuals and were not engrossed in the physical involvement of this world. Furthermore, it mentions that Yitzchok was not burdened with an entire family of 70 people while Yaakov was responsible for an entire large family to transport them to Egypt. Why was that pertinent to what was transpiring at this time?

            He explains that Yaakov was very upset to leave Eretz Yisroel where the Divine Presence was extant. Additionally, he was embarking on a journey to enter into a land that was known for its disrepute. He realized that in order to maintain his spiritual plane of holiness he needed to connect to Hashem in an exceedingly cogent fashion. He knew that his father had experienced in Ber Sheva a divine revelation and he envisaged that he would also perhaps encounter such a convergence with Hashem as well. At that time, he would be privy to the counsel of Hashem advising him whether or not he should indeed continue onto Egypt or maybe remain in Eretz Yisrael despite the dire situation.  

            Yitzchok merited divine revelation when it was time to bless his son and that was accomplished through consuming sacrificial food. His table was comparable to an altar in the Beis Hamikdash and when he ate that which Yaakov brought him, the lamb that Rivka provided for him, the consumption on that level of purity connected him to Hashem granting him the capability to indeed confer blessings. Yaakov attempted to accomplish the same goal with his offering and access a strong association with Hashem and search for guidance at this most important juncture. That is what the Midrash means that he sacrificed to his father Yitzchok, using the protocol that was successfully proven by his father. We don’t find that Avrohom also performed in the same way. However, to his dismay he didn’t reach the same level of inviolability as his father. As he stated, his preoccupation with his family was enough to divert his focus from its intended purpose and he did not experience what Yitzchok did. In addition to the sacrifices, Yaakov remained there overnight and was deep in thought and prayer which then enhanced his already elevated spirit and then he was able to connect sufficiently with Hashem.

            The significance of this Midrash is that when we go forward in life and encounter questions that are difficult to deal with, confer with your elders and those who have traversed the many ups and downs and they have discovered what to expect and how to navigate those troubled waters. Learn from them and even if we can’t totally emulate their success still they have paved the way and its behooves us to follow them.

A BYTE FOR SHABBOS

Knowledge brings to a level unparalleled before one’s understanding of a matter. Yaakov mourned for 22 years thinking that Yosef was dead. However, the moment that he was informed that indeed Yosef was alive and well and had achieved incredible prominence in Egypt, his entire demeanor and essence rapidly changed and his spirit was totally revived.                                          ALTER FROM KELM

GOOD SHABBOS