Parasha Vayechi
By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.
SAN DIEGO — Who doesn’t want to live a life that matters, a life that carries lasting impact? This week’s parasha may help define a path to achieve this mighty goal. Let’s take a look at what the Zohar reveals in his understanding of Yaakov’s death. He teaches us that eternal life can only be attained in this world. This world, not in the next world. How we live our lives, not how long we live our lives, determines our eternal life.
When our soul ascends to heaven, we bring every day we’ve lived, with us. Our days don’t disappear upon our death, but rather stay with us…forever. Every day, the special meaning we give to the days of our lives, accompany us through eternity. This is why keeping ourselves pure, acting with kindness, compassion, humility and truly not judging others are so essential to our eternal lives. Does this awareness help you realize the potential that awaits you?
While the parasha ends on a seemingly “bad” note, the death of Yaakov, Rashi tells us on the pasuk, “And Jacob concluded commanding his sons, and he drew his legs [up] into the bed, and expired and was brought in to his people,” from Ta’anith 5b, “But no mention is made of death and this regard, our Rabbis of blessed memory said, Our father Jacob did not die.” What? Did NOT die? But he was buried! Was he still really alive?
Tosafot explains that, when describing Jacob’s death, the Torah only says that he “expired,’ not that he ‘died.” He stopped breathing but continued a true life.
We also learn, “Rabbi Yochanan stated, ‘Our father Jacob did not die.’ Rabbi Nachman asked, ‘Was it in vain that they eulogized Jacob and embalmed his body and buried him?’ Rabbi Yochanan responded, ‘I derive this from a verse: ‘Fear not, Jacob My servant… for I will save you from afar, and your offspring from the land of their captivity’ (Jeremiah 30:10). The verse likens Jacob to his offspring: just as his offspring lives, so too, Jacob lives’” (Ta’anit 5b).
Yaakov diffused his spiritual heritage – during times of trials to faith, times that lacked morals, in a society of indecency – to Yosef and the generations that succeeded him – to us. These special qualities are planted within us to this very day and are ours as a source of life.
Perhaps we learn from these interesting insights that “bad” may not be what we think it is, that “death” may not be what we think it is. The reality is rather as the Zohar points out, and as Rashi and others appear to agree with, that Yaakov didn’t die, that with open eyes and a receptive heart we can understand that when we have the “Raising of the Dead,” when Moshiach helps us turn our pain into blessings, we will see that no one ever really died. Until then we say this Shabbat, “Chazak Chazak V’Nitcchazaike” “Be strong, Be strong and we will be strengthened.” Vayechi, after all, means “he lived.”
Despite all of the hardships, the bigotry, the anti-Jewishism we face today, by continuing our commitment to Judaism, our identification as proud Jews, we know that Yaacov did not die.
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Dr. Mantell writes a d’var Torah each week for Young Israel of San Diego, where he and his family worship.