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Vayechi (Genesis 47:28 - 50:26) Previous Page, Torah Lesson Plan, or YHVH Homepage
In this reading we are confronted with the death of Jacob. He asked the favor of his son Joseph, that he not be buried in the land of Egypt, but rather to be taken to the Cave of Machpelah, the same Cave where our patriarchs and our matriarchs are buried. This however, may seem to be a double standard because he buried his wife Rachel by the side of the road [see Gen.49:29-31] in Masoretic Hebrew-English Bible via www.mechon-mamre.org [See also Genesis 35:19 and 48:7] in the New American Standard Bible via www.crosswalk.com | | ?? ??????? ??????, ????????? ??????? ????? ??????? ???-??????--??????? ?????, ???-???????: ???-??????????--?????? ?????????, ???????? ????????. | 29 And he charged them, and said unto them: 'I am to be gathered unto my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, | | ? ??????????? ?????? ????????? ?????????????, ?????? ???-??????-???????--???????? ????????: ?????? ????? ????????? ???-?????????, ????? ??????? ????????--??????????-?????. | 30 in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying-place. | | ?? ??????? ??????? ???-?????????, ????? ?????? ?????????, ??????? ??????? ???-???????, ????? ??????? ?????????; ????????? ??????????, ???-?????. | 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah. | | Ge 35:19 - Show Context So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). Ge 48:7 - Show Context "Now as for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died, to my sorrow, in the land of Canaan on the journey, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)." | Rashi points out to us that Jacob was explaining to Joseph that he was completely aware that Joseph had resentment toward him for burying his mother there. As he points out, this was not his decision, but rather the decision of Hashem. Nevertheless, it is obvious, that this situation remains unsettled within the life of Jacob.
This greatly resembles the common everyday battle which each one of us must partake in. This battle is between the male and female within each and every one of us. The drive to better ourselves through conquest exists within our male nature. On the other hand, our capability of being receptive and making sacrifices, exists within our female element. This duality (one side giving while the other receiving) that resides within us is so dominating that seldom the two can be distinguished, one from the other. At one moment we may boast that we are not selfish, while at the same time we do so in order to come across as being righteous. Hence, another rationalization, and another action for the sake of self gratification, rather than for the simplicity of truth. This is the way that Hashem created us. "Male and female He created them... And He called their name man (Adam)."
Jacob, also known as "Israel", has given us, as Jews, the structure of this duality. From him we have received the strong desire for perfection. From Rachel, who died during childbirth, and who dwells by the side of a lonely road in order to better witness, and lament over the suffering of her children, we received our ability for commitment and self-transcendence. It is written in the book of Genesis, "there arose a mist from the earth and watered the surface of the land."
Let's apply this verse to the above-mentioned duality. Rain is crucial to growth, but so is sun light. If we looked at the two dominating elements of growth, sun light and the rain, we will see a difference. The sun light is a gift from the heavens, while the rain is a production of the earth, and only then manipulated by Heaven. The rain originates as moisture and then rises toward the heavens where it forms a cloud and returns as rainwater. All of the oceans and all plants combine in this effort in order to nurture the earth. It is the sun, which awakens the moisture and causes it to rise. It is the sun which sets the patterns of the wind which in turn carry the clouds to where the water is needed.
The same holds true within our miniature world, our bodies. All of our potentials which allow us to create and achieve come from on High. Hashem provides us with different experiences and situations. However, it is through these experiences and situations that we find ourselves in, that we can begin to elevate our potentials upward, so that Hashem may also take these accumulated potentials and convert them into rain, granting moisture exactly where it is most needed.
What this shows us is that within this world of duality both sides are equally needed, whether it is the male and female, or a good inclination and an evil inclination. Just as Jacob carried with him for many years the feeling of resentment from his son, for burying Rachel by the side of the road, we also carry with us our burdens of past decision. In Jacob's case it was Hashem who instructed him in the proper procedures for Rachel's burial. However in our case we must learn from Jacob and his great persistence to be buried in the land of Israel, that we must strive our very best to achieve that which is correct, rather than feel guilty for actions which we were forced into, without logical understanding. We must focus on the future, and plan it according to truth. According to what is proper in the context of Torah, and what is expected of us.
If this is our goal, but during this process something appears which causes us to stray from this goal (burial of Rachel) … we must nevertheless continue on the same course (proper burial of Jacob), and do what is expected. We must also remember what Joseph has taught us, that we are not the reason for our own success, we are only vessels which hold a greater light, and we must make sure that our vessels are not damaged. We only do that which we deem as being correct in hopes that it will rise to the heavens and be returned to us as much needed rain from which we can continue to grow.
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