Parhat Va-Yetzei (And He Left)
CARLSBAD, California — This week we continue with the narrative involving our righteous father Yaakov / Jacob. The portion begins, “And Yaakov left Be’er Sheva and he went to Charan.” Be’er Sheva was where Yaakov grew up in the home of his holy parents Yitzchak (Isaac) and Rivka (Rebecca). Yaakov was compelled to flee his parents’ home and head to his Uncle Lavan’s who lived in Charan due to the homicidal rage of Eisav, Yaakov’s evil twin, who wanted to murder him for taking the blessing that he desired.
Yaakov did not head straight to his uncle’s, however. The commentaries note that he made a ‘brief’ 14-year detour in the house of Torah study led by Shem and Ever, the son and grandson of Noah who were prophets. After that enriching experience Yaakov was on his way, but stopped to rest at the site of the future Holy Temple, on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. It was there that he had his famous dream of angels ascending and descending a ladder that led to heaven. The Almighty appeared to Yaakov and reassured him that he would be greatly blessed and that his progeny would spread forth in all directions.
We find that before going to sleep Yaakov arranged stones around his head, presumably for protection. The Rabbis point out that this seems strange, for if Yaakov felt he needed protection why not arrange rocks around his entire body? If he had faith that G-d would guard him why did he need any rocks at all? The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, answers that Yaakov had complete trust that the Almighty would protect him. The purpose of the rocks arranged around his head was to symbolically protect that which he had learned from the potential influences he was sure to encounter when he arrived in Charan, a place known for its evil ways.
Tradition tells us that Yaakov was the “choicest of the Patriarchs.” He successfully combined the best of his grandfather Avraham and father Yitzchak. Avraham excelled at acts of loving-kindness and Yitzchak excelled at self-restraint and self-perfection. Yaakov managed to fuse the two approaches. It was only Yaakov who managed to father exclusively righteous children. From this we see that he did something exceedingly well to the extent that it positively impacted all of his children.
We now can go back and understand an anomaly in the opening sentence. The portion starts by telling us where Yaakov left, something we already knew. Why didn’t it just say, “And Yaakov went to Charan?” Rashi, the great classical commentator, explains a specific lesson from the seemingly extra phrase. When Yaakov, great Tzaddik (righteous man) that he was, departed Be’er Sheva it made an impact. Likewise, when he arrived in Charan it made an impact. That is what happens when a saintly person leaves a place and arrives somewhere else; it makes an impact. The influence of the holy is profound and enduring.
The question now becomes quite pointed and that is; “Do you make a positive impact when you depart and/or arrive somewhere?” We are told to look to the actions of the Patriarchs and to remember that they served as trailblazers for us. In other words, if Yaakov could do it so can we; indeed, so must we.
Let us therefore resolve to be a positive influence wherever we may go. It could be our influence that will ultimately transform a Charan into a Be’er Sheva!
Wishing everyone a happy and HEALTHY Shabbos!
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Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort is Director of Coastal Chabads and Chabad at La Costa. Rabbi Eilfort welcomes readers’ comments and questions and may be reached at RabbiE@ChabadatLaCosta.com.