Parshat Vayeitzei 5786
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in the very beginning of this week’s parsha (Chapter 28, Pasuk 11), ויפגע במקום וילן שם כי בא השמש. Yaakov arrived at the place and stayed overnight for the sun had set. Rashi comments, based on the Medrash Rabbah (68,10), that the sun set early unexpectedly and that’s why Yaakov stayed over there. Since the sun set suddenly, Yaakov had no choice but to stop his journey and spend the night at that place.
The Medrash continues and gives another explanation for the words כי בא השמש. According to the next explanation, Yaakov heard the angels say כי בא השמש, כי בא השמש, the sun is coming. The angels were announcing Yaakov’s arrival. Yaakov is referred to as the Shemesh, as is recorded in the dream of Yosef when he says that the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to him. When Yaakov heard Yosef’s dream he responds, מי גילה לו ששמי שמש; who told him that my name is Shemesh? According to this p’shat, that the angels were calling out that the Shemesh was coming, how does this explain why Yaakov stayed over at that spot?
First, we need to understand the significance of Yaakov being referred to as the sun. The Medrash Rabbah in the beginning of Bereishis (2,3) comments on the pasuk (Chapter 1, Pasuk 5), ויקרא אלוקים לאור יום, זה יעקב. Yaakov represents light. What is the additional component of the light of Yaakov being like the light of the sun?
Rashi teaches on the words at the beginning of our pasuk, ויפגע במקום, למדנו שתקן יעקב ערבית. We derive from here that Yaakov established the prayer at night. His prayer was for a time of darkness. In contrast, Avraham established the morning prayer. The morning is a time of light and clarity, which is fitting for Avraham who had the clarity and understanding to find Hashem in the world. And Yitzchak established מנחה, the afternoon prayer when it is still light out. And the words used to describe the prayer of Yitzchak are ויצא יצחק לשוח בשדה; he went out and conversed with Hashem. Rav Tzadok teaches that this expresses an intimacy and connection Yitzchak had with Hashem that allowed him to pour out his heart to Hashem. What is the significance of Yaakov establishing the prayer for night, a time of darkness and confusion?
Yaakov wasn’t only described as light; the Medrash tells us he was the Shemesh; כי בא השמש. The sun lights up the moon. The moon doesn’t have any light of its own, its light is derived exclusively from the sun. This is why Yaakov established the prayer for the night. The light of Yaakov is what enables us to make it through the darkness of Olam Hazeh, which Chazal teach is like the night, דומה ללילה. It is the most fitting for Yaakov of all the Avos, the Shemesh, to be the one who established Arvit.
Rav Tzadok teaches that while the other Avos had a close and intimate relationship with Hashem, Yaakov, the בחיר האבות, was on a higher plane. He was the most Divine like. The Tefillah of Yaakov was established with the word ויפגע which implies a real connection. When Yaakov heard the angels say כי בא השמש, he understood that he was being compared to Gd. For Hashem is also referred to as the Shemesh, as the pasuk says in Tehillim (Chapter 84, Pasuk 12), כי שמש ומגן ד' אלוקים. Hashem is the ultimate protector and Shemesh, but Yaakov contained some of those abilities as well.
When Yaakov heard the angels say כי בא השמש, he understood that he was being given a message. He had qualities like Hashem, the sun which lights up the dark moon. And he needed to utilize those abilities. This is why ויפגע במקום וילן שם; Yaakov realized he needed to connect with Hashem and establish a prayer for the evening, for a time of darkness. He stayed over to daven and give hope for those people suffering the darkness of night during their journey through life. Even during the darkest times, we have the ability to pray to Hashem and receive light and protection from the Shemesh of Hashem. And Yaakov realized his need to provide the means to access this light for future generations through prayer when he heard the angels call out, כי בא השמש, כי בא השמש.
Good Shabbos
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