B"H
Monday, Tevet 7, 5778 / December 25, 2017
Shalom. Last week I was in N.Y. due to my father’s health situation. Thank you for all your prayers on his behalf. Four weeks ago when he was rushed to the hospital, they gave him very little hope of leaving the hospital. But, thank G-d, he left the hospital on Wednesday to a rehab center. He is on a respirator and still needs help breathing, but there is hope he may be able to be weaned off it. Miracles do happen. May we hear only good news.
This week’s Torah reading is Parshat Vayechi - the last Parsha of the Book of Breishis (Genesis). In this Parsha we read about the last 17 years of Yaakov’s life, which he spent with his family in Egypt.
Of the twelve Parshiot in the Book of Genesis, the first Parsha tells the story of creation; the second Parsha relates the story of Noah and the Great Flood. The next ten Parshiot present the life stories of the Patriarchs (Abraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov) and Matriarchs (Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah).
The life of Abraham and Yitzchak are recorded in the four Parshiot; Lech Lecha, Vayeira, Chayei Sarah and Toldot. The story of Yaakov is told in over seven Parshiot; Toldot, Vayeitzei, Vayishlach, Vayeishev, Mikeitz, Vayigash, Vayechi. Yaakov's life was the shortest. Abraham lived 175 years; Yitzchak 180 years and Yaakov lived only 147 years.
Abraham and Yaakov should also have lived to 180. However, G-d shortened Abraham's life by five years to spare him the pain of seeing his grandson, Esau's evil behavior.
Q. Why did Yaakov lose 33 years of his life? Our sages explain the reason as follows:
A.When Yaakov came to Egypt and Pharaoh asked him his age, he replied, "The days of the years of my life are a hundred and thirty years; few and bad have been the days of my life and they have not attained the days of the years of the life of my fathers" (Gen. 47:9).
The verse in which Yaakov complains about his bad lot and misfortune in life contain 33 Hebrew words. As a result of complaining about his difficult life, his life was shortened by 33 years.
But, unlike Abraham and Yitzchak, the Torah doesn't use the word "death" to describe Yaakov's passing. Because of this our sages say, "Yaakov did not die!"
The Talmud explains the above concept as follows: Abraham's son Ishmael and his descendants departed from Abraham's ways. Similarly, Yitzchak's son Esau and his descendants strayed from the teachings of Yitzchak. But Yaakov’s children all followed in their father's tradition. Thus, our sages say, "As long as his children continue his way of life, Yaakov too, lives through them." It teaches us the importance of continuing our Jewish tradition, as it impacts our ancestors who past on.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY