Parshat Vayeitzei 5781
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week’s parsha that Yaakov married and had children while living in the house of Lavan. Right after Yosef was born, Yaakov tells his wives he is ready to go home. The pasuk says (Chapter 30, Pasuk 25), Vayehi Ka’asher Yaldah Rachel es Yosef Vayomer Yaakov el Lavan Shalcheini V’Eilcha el Mekomi U’Le’Artzi. When Yosef was born, Yaakov said to Lavan let me go and I will return to my homeland. Why was it precisely at this moment, upon the birth of Yosef, that Yaakov felt he was ready to return home and face his angry brother Eisav?
Rashi quotes a pasuk from sefer Ovadiah (Pasuk 18), V’Hayah Beis Yaakov Eish, U’Beis Yosef Lehavah, U’Beis Eisav L’Kash. This pasuk compares Yaakov to a fire, Yosef to his flame, and Eisav to straw. Yosef is like the flame to Yaakov’s fire, enabling him to have control over a greater distance and ultimately consume the straw of Eisav. What is the deeper meaning of this notion of having control over a greater distance, Sholiet Me’Rachok, and why is it specifically Yosef who gave Yaakov this power and therefore, the confidence to return home?
The Zohar Hakadosh teaches on the words in parshat Bereishis (Chapter 2, Pasuk 3), Asher Bara Elokim La’asos, that Hashem commanded all the creations La’asos; He commanded them to make and produce creations similar to themselves. We learn from here that an essential part of the created world was the ability to reproduce and continue that process which had begun with creation.
The Sfas Emes teaches that the more one reproduces, the greater the impact on the reproducer. The more one creates, the greater the source becomes as well. The purpose of man is to produce in the world, and the more he produces, the greater his sphere of influence becomes.
Rashi brings the idea of the Medrash Tanchuma (2) in the first pasuk of parshat Noach, Ikar Todloseihem shel Tzadikim Ma’asim Tovim. The greatest legacy of the righteous are their good deeds. The best way to make an impact on the world is through the performance of mitzvos and acts of kindness to others. And the more we perform good deeds, the more we improve ourselves and increase our power in the world. The more we teach others and they become students, the more we help others and give of our ourselves, and of course the more effort we put into raising children in the world, the greater impact it has on us and increases our own ability to further affect others.
We start off life’s journey with certain talents and innate abilities. Our job is to actualize our potential and bring those abilities to fruition. And when we do this, our abilities increase. We start off with limited potential, and it’s only through their actualization that we further increase our potential.
This process is called Yosef. When Yosef was born, Rachel said (Chapter 30, Pasuk 24), Yosef Hashem Li Bein Acher. As soon as Yosef was born Rachel was immediately looking to increase her progeny and have more children. Yosef’s name itself indicates the ability to add and increase one’s power and influence. This is why it was precisely the birth of Yosef that gave Yaakov the confidence to face Eisav. When Yaakov left home, he left fearful of Eisav. But since then he had accomplished much and grown. Yosef represented the ability to intensify one’s power and standing in the world. Now he was ready to face the challenge of Eisav.
The pasuk in Tehillim says (Chapter 127, Pasuk 4), Ke’Chitzim Beyad Gibor, Kein Bnei Ha’Neurim. Like arrows in the hands of the strong, so too are the offspring of the young. Rashi learns that the Bnei Neurim are the students one has when he’s young. Teaching others and obtaining students is compared to shooting arrows. The arrows allow us to have an effect on much greater distances than we would normally have. This is the Sholeit Me’Rachok Rashi is referring to. Yosef represented the ability to grow and increase our sphere of influence. Through arrows we reach greater distances. Similarly, when we do good deeds and help others, our effects are felt far and wide. This is why Yaakov felt confident with the birth of Yosef. Yosef gave Yaakov Tosefet Koach, a wider sphere of influence, ready to take on the challenges of Eisav.
Good Shabbos
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