ויחי-Yaakov's Legacy

I would like to dedicate this entry in memory of my friend Yaakov Gantz who passed away on Sunday ו' בטבת תשס"ח at the age of 58. In the הספד given by his son, Ben Gantz mentioned that one of the traits of Yaakov Avinu was truthfulness (as written in Tehilim תתן אמת ליעקב). Yaakov Avinu's namesake, Yaakov Gantz ז'ל, shared this trait. He was guided by a fierce dedication to his inner truth as he saw it, and refused to compromise that truth in any way. This extended to an extreme love for Torah, Eretz Yisrael and Am Yisrael.

In another הספד, Rav David Horden mentioned that is ironic that in the Parsha named ויחי (from the root of word 'Life'), we read about Yaakov Avinu's death, the preparations for his funeral, and his burial in Ma'arat Hamachpela in Hevron. Of course many of the Mefarshim state that while Yaakov Avinu's life had ended, his legacy would go on to live forever. Indeed, Yaakov Avinu's parting words to his sons spoke of this legacy. While Rashi comments that Yaakov wanted to reveal how this world is to end (בקש לגלות את הקץ ונסתם ממנו), the Ramban states that Yaakov did reveal the world's ending in his Bracha to Yehuda--an ending that culminates with the arrival of the Meshiach (עד כי יבוא שילה ולו יקהת עמים).

Speaking between Mincha and Arvit on one of the days of the Shiva, Harav Adas mentioned that the fast of עשרה בטבת will always fall on the week in which we read Parshat ויחי. And that on this day our fortunes took a huge turn for the worst and the serious troubles for Am Yisrael began. It is such a sad day, that it is the only fast day besides Yom Kippur that overrides Shabbat. And that if עשרה בטבת would fall on Shabbat, we would have to fast. This is learned from the book of Yechezkel 24:1 in the prophet's mention of the fast (בעצם היום הזה - on this very day).

In another insight offered by Rav Adas on the Parsha: when Yaakov Avinu is getting ready to bless Yoseph's sons in Bereishit 48:8 he asks Yoseph "who are they" (וירא ישראל את בני יוסף ויאמר מי אלה). Rashi comments that Yaakov experienced a temporary lapse in his נבואה when he saw the evil descendants to emerge from Efraim and Menashe. בני stands for ירבעם בן נבט. Yoseph's response was no Dad, you have it all wrong: בני stands for יהושע בן נון.