The Parsha opens up
with the statement “Vayichi Yaakov b’eretz Mitzrayim shevah esreh shanah.”
“And Yaakov lived in Mitzraim for seventeen years.” The Bal HaTurim explains
that the Gematriah of Vayichi (lived) is seventeen. The Torah is
telling us that Vaychi — the life of Yaakov was seventeen years. Up
until that point, he had suffered so much that his years couldn’t rightfully
be called a life. The sum total of the years that he spent without torment
was the seventeen years that he lived in Mitzraim. That was his life.
With this, the Bal
Haturim gives a very different perspective on the life of Yaakov — he had a
rough existence. For the first sixty-three years of his life, he suffered at
the hands of his twin brother Aysav. From the time that they were in the
womb together, they were fighting about this world and the Next. That period
ended when he ran for his life because his dear brother was plotting
his murder. He then spent the next fourteen years hiding out as a fugitive
in the Yeshiva of Shem VaEver.
When it was time to
marry, he found himself in the house of Lavan, “the devious one.” For
the next twenty years, Yaakov was an unwelcome intruder in a culture alien
to his nature, eating at the very table of a father-in-law who attempted in
any way possible to swindle and cheat him. That period came to an end when
Lavan chased him down. Once again, he escaped as a fugitive. Immediately
after that, he met up with Aysav, who had set out with 400 men to kill him.
Barely escaping with his life, he settled in Eretz Yirsroel, only to have
the tragedy of the taking of Dina befall him. After this, his most beloved
and precious son, Yosef, was stolen from him, and for the next twenty-two
years he lived in a state of mourning, not sure if Yosef were alive or dead.
Finally at the age of 130, he settled in Mitzraim, where he enjoyed
seventeen years of peace.
The Bal Haturim is
telling us that the Torah uses the expression, “Yaakov lived for seventeen
years in Mitzraim,” to teach us this point. He suffered so acutely during
the earlier part of his life that it wouldn’t be called living. This was the
first time that he’d lived without affliction.
This concept becomes
difficult to understand when we focus on who Yaakov Avinu was. Chazal tell
us that Yaakov was the greatest of the Avos. He was born with a father and
grandfather who were his Rebbeim. From the time of his earliest youth, he
spent his days in the tent of Torah, completely immersed in the sea of
learning. Surely he didn’t need a difficult life. Surely he could enjoy this
world and not become distracted by the glitz and the glitter. So why did he
need to suffer?
The answer to this
question can be understood with a Moshol.
The Gym and the Spa Moshol
Picture a very exclusive health club with two
separate sections. On the left is the spa, and on the right is the gym. The
spa is where people relax. Whether sitting in the steam room, lying in the
Jacuzzi, or lounging in the sauna, the mode of activity is to loosen up and
enjoy. The gym is where people exercise. They push themselves, they strain,
and they challenge their bodies.
Imagine that the first time you visit this
health club, you decide to go right to the spa. By mistake, instead of
turning left, you turn right and find yourself in the gym. You look around,
and all you see are red-faced men lifting heavy loads, grunting, groaning,
and sweating away. The first thought that comes to your mind is, “What
kind of lousy spa is this? What is all of this straining? The red faces? The
grunting and groaning? I thought people are supposed to be lying around,
chilling out, enjoying?”
This is a very apt parable for life. When
HASHEM made man, He created two worlds — this world and the World to Come.
Each has its purpose. This world is the place of growth. The World to Come
is the place that we enjoy that which we accomplished.
We are put into this world so that we can go
through all of the challenges of life: resisting temptations, choosing that
which is right, and thereby shaping ourselves into who we will be for
eternity. We were put into this world to grow. This world is the gym.
The World to Come is the spa. It is the place where we enjoy the
fruits of the work that we put in while in this world. It is the place of
reward.
The reason that many people have difficulty
understanding life is because they confuse this world for the World to Come.
As a result, they have many, many questions. Why does man have to work so
hard? Why are there so many challenges? Why is there suffering in the world?
Once a person clearly understands the purpose
of life, so many of his questions naturally fall away. But until a person
adopts an Olam Habbah approach to life, nothing makes sense — not
work, not challenges, and surely not pain and suffering. However, once a
person adopts a World to Come perspective, these questions fall away.
If you ask a person who regularly works out
if he enjoys the training, the answer will be a resounding “Yes!” But it is
work. It is focused and often difficult. To grow one must strain. No
pain, no gain. On the whole, the activity may be enjoyable, but it often
isn’t easy.
HASHEM created us to use this world for its
intended purpose — to grow. Should life be fun? The answer is yes. But it is
focused. It has a plan and a purpose.
Gadolim didn’t have it easy
We often take the attitude that Gadolim had
it easy. Sure to be Avrohom Avinu, that would be a cinch. After all, HASHEM
spoke directly to him. He knew where he was headed in life. For him, life
was a walk in the park. But me, I suffer. I have it rough.
The reality is that every human suffers. That
is a part of life. But it’s not by accident, and it’s not because HASHEM
isn’t clever enough to figure out a way to create man without pain and
suffering. Quite the opposite, these situations were hand-crafted as part of
the challenges that man needs to grow. This life is the great laboratory of
growth. When a person understands this perspective, life itself has meaning
and significance. He will understand both the purpose of his existence and
reason for his life settings. With this vantage point, he can truly enjoy
his stay on the planet, knowing the meaning and depth behind everything that
he lives through.
For more
on this topic please listen to
Shmuz #24 - Understanding Life Settings
