Friday, December 2, 2022

A Long Journey Home

Why is Vayetzeh a parsha סתומה?  The break between parshiot means there is a break; one episode has concluded and another one starts.  Yaakov didn't view his separation from his parents as a new episode.  He didn't view his personal golut as a new chapter in his life but rather it was a long journey to get back to Eretz Yisrael.  According to the Seforno, the episode at the end of the parsha of the different names of the stones of the peace treaty between Yaakov and Lavan are to tell us that Yaakov did not become assimilated to speak the language of Lavan as his official language.  He remained tied to his roots in Eretz Yisrael, to lashon hakodesh.  

In the beginning of the parsha it says about Yaakov ויפגע במקום and at the end of the parsha it says ויפגעו בו מלאכי אלקים.  This is a stark contrast.  In the beginning, Yaakov is unsure about maintaining his level of kedusha outside his zone.  For him to experience a meeting with the Shechina on the way to establish a family was a chiddush.  It was ויפגע, a deep impression was made upon in this meeting.  By the end of the parsha, after he has an established family with the level of kedusha that he started with, then it is a chiddush for the malachim to see that.  For the malachim it is a pelah, the impression was made upon them (based upon Rav Hirsch.)  

How does Yaakov maintain his commitment to his starting place?  By perfecting himself before leaving. ויצא יעקב מבאר שבע.  The Midrash (68:7) says מבארה של שבועה.  As discussed a few weeks ago, there is a relationship between seven and an oath.  When one takes a שבועה, they are committing to put all their 7 כוחות into the matter.  That is what Chazal are telling us.  Yaakov perfected himself in all 7 middot before leaving.  (That may be why he offered to serve Lavan for 7 years, (see Seforno and Chuzkuni,) for he wished to bring the completion of his middot into his marriage.)  Because of his perosnla work Yaakov was able to not be deterred through his golut.  (See first Sfas Emes and Or Gedalyahu.)

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