B"H
Friday, Tevet 13, 5779 / December 21, 2018
Shabbat we will read Parshat Vayechi, which is the final Parsha of the first Book of the Torah – Breishis (Genesis). In this Parsha we read about the passing of our patriarch Yaakov (Jacob) and the blessings he gave his children before he passed away.
There are twelve Parshiot which make up the Book of Breishit. Abraham lived 175 years; Yitzchak (Isaac) lived 180, while Yaakov lived 147 years. Although Yaakov's life was the shortest of the patriarchs, yet, the Parshiot which tell the story of Yaakov are more than those telling the stories of Abraham and Yitzchak combined. The final seven Parshiot of Breishis, tell the life story of Yaakov.
According to the sages, each of the patriarchs should have lived the same amount of years – 180 years.
Q. Why was Abraham’s life shortened by five years?
A. G-d took Abraham five years early, so that he will not witness his grandson Esau’s bad behavior.
Q. Why was Yaakov’s life shortened by 33 years?
A. Our sages explain that 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 complete verse in which Yaakov complains about his misfortunes in life contains 33 Hebrew words. As a result of these 33 words which he complained about his lot in life, instead of accepting it because it was G-d’s will, his life was shortened by 33 years!
Q. The Parsha speaks about Yaakov’s passing. Why is the entire Parsha called, “Vayechi Yaakov,” which means “Yaakov lived”?
A. Unlike Abraham and Yitzchak, the Torah doesn't use the word "death" to describe Yaakov's passing. As a result, 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. Yaakov was the only one of the patriarchs whose children all followed in their father's tradition. Thus, our sages say, "Yaakov didn't die. For, as long as his descendents continue in his ways and teachings, he too is alive.” Since Yaakov's children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, until this day – 3500 years later, continue in his footsteps, by observing the Torah and mitzvot, Yaakov will forever be considered alive.
SHABBAT SHALOM
MontrealCandle lighting time: 3:55 / Shabbat ends 5:05