Parshat Vayechi 5779
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week's parsha that Yaakov gives a blessing to Yosef and his children. The Medrash Rabbah (97, 3) compares two phrases Yaakov employs (Chapter 48, Pasukim 15-16); Ha'Elokim Ha'Roeh Osi and Ha'Malach Ha'Goel Osi. The Medrash teaches that we learn from here a comparison between Parnasah and Geulah. Ha'Elokim Ha'Roeh Osi suggests Parnasah, like a shepherd caring for his flock, while Ha'Malach Ha'Goel Osi indicates Geulah.
The Medrash, quoting pasukim, teaches that both Parnasah and Geulah come about as a result of Pela'im. The word Peleh means a miracle, but more precisely it expresses the notion of the physical and the spiritual coexisting. The Rema in Siman 6 teaches that the bracha "Asher Yatzar" which discusses the wonders of the human body includes the term "Mafli La'asos", the word Mafli coming from the aforementioned word Peleh. The Rema explains that this term is included in the bracha because one of the wonders of the body is its ability to contain both a physical and a spiritual component at once. Rav Hutner expands on this concept and adds that the part of the body which most exemplifies this blending is the mouth. The mouth is the physical, outward expression of our internal thoughts and ideas.
This is the reason the Torah introduces the section on making a vow to become a Nazir with the words (Bamidbar, Chapter 6, Pasuk 2), Ish O Isha Ki Yafli Lindor Neder Nazir L'Hazir L'Hashem. The word Yafli is from the word Peleh; speaking and giving physical expression to a desire for spiritual expansion by becoming a Nazir is best expressed with the word Peleh. And the section of the Rambam's Mishnah Torah which deals with the laws of vows and oaths is called Sefer Hafla'ah.
The Sfas Emes teaches that when Hashem brings about Geulah, He brings about miracles and allows for supernatural events to take place in our natural world. This combination of the supernatural with the natural is the Peleh of Geulah. And the same is true of Parnasah. In our physical world we do all sorts of activities in order to sustain ourselves. However, our Parnasah comes directly from Hashem. We do not succeed as a result of being great farmers or businessmen. Everything comes from Hashem.
The miracle of Parnasah, however, is even greater than Geulah. In Geulah, we experience Hashem's presence in a supernatural manner. But with Parnasah, Hashem contracts Himself, so to speak, into our world and brings about His sustenance to us in physical form. We have all of our needs cared for and it appears to be totally natural even though it is all Divinely inspired. This is Hafleh Va'Feleh!
The Sfas Emes extends this notion to the Halacha in Tefillah that one must be "Somech Geulah L'Tefillah". Before we daven the Shemoneh Esrei Brachos we say the bracha of Geulah, Ga'al Yisrael. This is because the middle thirteen brachos are all about Parnasah in the broader sense. They are requests that all our basic needs and desires in this world be met. And this Halacha teaches that Geulah must come before Parnasah. Just as in Geulah Hashem reveals Himself in this world and redeems us, we must be aware before we daven that everything comes from Hashem. Only then are we able to stand before Hashem and make our personal requests.
The way that we are able to attain this level of personal Geulah is by ridding ourselves of sin. The evil of sin blocks our connection to Hashem and causes us to be further involved in the physical world. Once we are closer to Hashem and clinging to the good in the world, our Parnasah becomes that much easier.
The Mishnah in the end of Kiddushin teaches that having to work hard to make a Parnasah is a result of sin, just as Adam HaRishon had all of his needs met in Gan Eden until he sinned. And the sin of Adam HaRishon brought a mixture of good and evil into the world. The more we remove evil from our lives, the closer we become to Hashem and attain a level of Geulah. After this, we are able to appreciate the Peleh of opening our mouth and asking for our needs. And then we are able to be zocheh to the Hafleh Va'Feleh; Hashem provides all of our needs and desires in the physical world.
Good Shabbos
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