בס”ד
In this week’s Torah reading we read about the last years of the life of Yaakov. Our sages tell us that his last 17 years were the best he ever lived. The question is why… He really reached his true potential by being in that place.
This week’s Torah reading is called Vayechi (“And he lived”), and it discusses the last years of the life of Jakob, our forefather. If you’ve been following the readings from the previous weeks leading up to this one, you know that Jakob and his entire family moved from the land of Canaan to the land of Egypt, called Mitzrayim in Hebrew. Why? Because there was a terrible famine in Canaan, and Jakob discovered that Joseph, his beloved son, was alive and serving as the viceroy of Egypt. With Joseph in a position of power, the family relocated to Egypt, where there was plenty of food thanks to Joseph’s foresight and storage efforts. He sustained his father, brothers, and their families during this difficult time.
Interestingly, there’s a commentary that focuses on the last 17 years of Jakob’s life, which he spent in Egypt. The Torah tells us these were, in truth, the best years of his life. But how do we understand this?
Insights into the Best Years of Jakob’s Life
- Numerical Value of “Tov” (Good): In Hebrew, each letter has a numerical value. The word tov (טוב), which means “good,” adds up to the number 17. This hints that the last 17 years Yakov spent in Egypt were indeed the best years of his life.
- Family Reunification: During these years, Jakob was reunited with his beloved son Joseph and lived together with his family in harmony. This unity contributed to the joy and fulfillment of his final years.
However, when we analyze the context, we encounter a paradox. Egypt, according to our sages, was known as the most perverted and corrupt place in the world at that time. Moreover, the name Mitzrayim is related to the Hebrew word meitzarim (מצרים), which means “oppression” or “limitations.” How could Jakobs’s best years be spent in such a place, especially when Canaan, the land of his forefathers, was spiritually elevated and holy?
A Deeper Explanation
The purpose of creation sheds light on this question. One explanation from our sages and the Midrash is that G-d created the world to have a dwelling place in the lowest realms—the physical, “lowly” world, rather than the spiritual worlds where His presence is already revealed.
Why is this significant? Revelation, as we understand it, often involves a descent. Think of a teacher who must simplify a profound concept to make it understandable for students. This act of “lowering” or “concealing” their own depth is necessary to communicate effectively. Similarly, G-d’s revelation in spiritual realms, like Gan Eden (Paradise), where His presence is openly experienced, involves a “descent” for Him.
But in the physical world—where G-d’s presence is concealed—the potential for an even greater revelation exists. When humans refine this world and elevate its spiritual potential, the essence of
G-d can be revealed in a way that surpasses what is possible in higher, spiritual realms. This is why the Torah says that Jakob’s best years were in Egypt. It was in the depths of Mitzrayim, the place of limitation and oppression, that Jakob could fulfill the ultimate purpose of creation: revealing divinity in the most unlikely and challenging circumstances.
Practical Application for Our Lives
This idea has profound implications for our own lives. The challenges and difficulties we face—our personal “Mitzrayim”—are not random. They are the places where our true purpose lies. In the moments of hardship, when we feel limited, oppressed, or stuck, we have the opportunity to uncover our deepest potential. It is through these struggles that we can experience the most profound personal growth and connection to G-d.
So, while it may seem paradoxical, the purpose of life often involves descending into the “mud” of difficulty in order to ascend to a higher level. Just as Jakob found his best years in the heart of Egypt, we, too, can transform our challenges into opportunities for divine revelation.
This idea reminds us that everything in life is part of G-d’s plan, designed to help us reach our true potential. May we merit to see the ultimate revelation of G-d’s essence with the coming of Mashiach, speedily in our days.
Talk from Rabbi Tuvia Serber
The above is a representation of the spoken text converted to written text.
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