Parshat Vayigash 5783
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week’s parsha that Yaakov goes down to Mitzrayim to see his son Yosef. The Medrash Rabbah (66,2) teaches that Yaakov should have been forced down to Egypt in chains. But Hashem had compassion on Yaakov and He brought him there by having him follow his children down to Egypt against his will.
The Chidushei Harim explains this idea of Yaakov going down to Egypt in chains as a way of explaining that being in Mitzrayim was so counter to who Yaakov was. And the only way to imagine him in Egypt would be for him to be lowered to a level where he could live in such a galus. These are the chains referred to in the Medrash. But the reason he didn’t need to lower himself was Yosef. Yosef showed that one can live in a place of impurity and still not change. It was Yosef maintaining his righteousness in Mitzrayim that enabled Yaakov to go down to Mitzrayim in a respectable manner.
The Sfas Emes adds that when Yaakov understood the reference to the parsha of עגלה ערופה (see Rashi on Chapter 45, Pasuk 27) sent by Yosef, he was revived. He understood that Yosef didn’t change from his time in Egypt. He still remembered their learning together and this was his reference in his first conversation reconnecting with Yaakov. He realized that he, therefore, didn’t need to change either. And he didn’t need to go down to Egypt in chains, but rather in wagons; and not the wagons of Pharaoh, but the “calves” of Yosef.
When Hashem appears to Yaakov and reassures him before he goes down to Mitzrayim, the pasuk says (Chapter 46, Pasuk 2), ויאמר אלוקים לישראל במראת הלילה. Hashem appeared to Yaakov at night. The Meshech Chachmah teaches that Yaakov was the only one of the Avos to whom Hashem appeared at night. This happens both here and in parshat Vayeitzei before Yaakov is about to leave to Chutz L’Aretz. Since Yaakov was the only one of the Avos who lived significant time in Chutz L’Aretz, Hashem appears to him at night, signifying that He will be with him during the darkness of his exile in Chutz L’Aretz as well. This also explains that while Avraham and Yitzchak, who lived in Eretz Yisrael, established prayer during the day, Shacharis and Minchah, Yaakov established Tefillah for the night time, Ma’ariv.
The Meshech Chachmah explains that since Yaakov was a Tzadik in Eretz Yisrael, the Shechinah went with him to Chutz L’Aretz as well. And the Tefillah he established, the evening prayer, corresponds to the burning overnight on the Mizbeach of the limbs and fats of the sacrifices brought that day. Typically, Avodah is not done during the day. But since these limbs and fats are from sacrifices brought during the day, they may be on the Mizbeach at night. In a similar vein, the Gemara in Moed Katan 25A teaches that the Navi Yechezkel was able to prophesy in Chutz L’Aretz since he had previously prophesied in Eretz Yisrael. The Shechinah was with him in Eretz Yisrael, and it continued with him in Chutz La’Aretz as well. The חלבים ואיברים were put on the Mizbeach at night, since the שחיטה וזריקה were done during the day. And Yaakov the Tzadik was promised before leaving to Mitzrayim (Chapter 46, Pasuk 4), אנכי ארד עמך מצרימה; the Shechinah will go down with him to Egypt.
The Meshech Chachmah concludes that this is a lesson for Clal Yisrael throughout the ages. We are part of a great nation who lived in Eretz Yisrael with the Beis Hamikdash and the Shechinah in our midst. This was our previous state, the היה כבר of the Gemara in Moed Katan, which enabled Yechezkel to continue his prophesy in Chutz La’Aretz. When we maintain our traditions and adherence to Torah and mitzvos, we maintain the continuity to our past and allow the Shechinah to rest among us, even in Chutz La’Aretz. But when we forget our past, we are on our own and remain lost.
And the Avos teach us that this is possible. Yosef remained in his state of righteousness despite living in an impure land and reaching the state of authority he achieved. And this is what revived Yaakov. One can still live among the nations and still maintain the traditions of our forefathers. And by doing so we maintain our dignity as Bnei Yisrael, and don’t need to be dragged down to Egypt in a ball and chain.
Good Shabbos
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