Va’Yechi, “and Jacob lived in the land of Mitzrayim seventeen years….”
Va’Yechi, “and Jacob lived in the land of Mitzrayim seventeen years….”
We notice that it doesn’t say “ and Jacob dwelled - VaYeshev - in the land of Egypt...”. The wording, VaYechi, implies he "lived fully" there, reunited with his son, Joseph, and seeing the reconciliation between his children. Jacob now prepares to die. What we see in this Parsha is how he approaches death and the meaningfulness of his final words to his children. In his last days or hours Jacob is both the father and the prophet. Clearly, he put a lot of thought into what he would say. Our anonymous biblical editor certainly did.
Many of us reading this newsletter are getting up there. Some of us are “retired", some of us are thinking about retirement. As we consider the future we, more frequently, think about our past, our achievements and perhaps our failings. We also reflect more seriously on our relationships with others. Finding meaning and purpose, as our dear friend Edgar frequently asks himself and us, at this this time in life is the existential challenge.
You may have heard of the practice of writing ethical wills. An old practice, Jewish ethical wills provide us with a way to convey important life lessons, insights, hopes and a shtikl of wisdom to our loved ones. Perhaps you have been the recipient of such an ethical will. Jacob’s words to his sons is the earliest example we have.
This week and next we also remember the lives and words of Abraham Joshua Heschel z’l and YItzhak Buxbaum z’l, beloved teachers. Earlier this week was Yitzhak’s 1st Yahrzeit. Monday night is Heschel’s 49th Yahrzeit. From Heschel:
"Why be concerned with meaning? Why not be content with satisfaction of desires and needs? The vital drives of food, sex, and power, as well as the mental functions aimed at satisfying them, are as characteristic of animals as they are of man. Being human is a characteristic of a being who faces the question: After satisfaction, what?"
(from The Wisdom of Heschel)
At the end of the Book of Genesis we chant: “Khazak, Khazak V’Nitkhazek…Be strong, Be strong. And may we strengthen each other.”
Thank you for your support of Am Kolel this season and always.
Todah Rabbah,
Reb David
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