The Tents of Yaakov!
In this week’s Parsha, Yaakov Ovinu is referred to as an איש תם יושב אהלים - a straightforward man who spent his time in the tents. Rashi explains that these tents were the tents of Yeshivas Shem V’Ever where Yaakov sat and learnt Torah. Reb Moshe Shmuel Shapiro zt”l in ספר זהב משבא (ל"ה) brings another place where the tents of Yaakov are mentioned. In Parshas Bolok, the Posuk (כ"ד:ה') says: מה טובו אהליך יעקב... - How good are your tents, Yaakov… The Targum Yonoson gives a fascinating translation on this: “How beautiful are these Botei Medrash in which Yaakov our forefather serves”. The question is, since this posuk was said by Bilom in the Midbor many generations after Yaakov Ovinu lived, how can it be understood to mean that Yaakov Ovinu serves Hashem in the future Botei Medroshim of Klal Yisroel?
He gives a remarkable answer; that this teaches us how every Beis HaMedrash throughout the ages is spiritually connected to and impacted by Yaakov Ovinu, to the extent that it’s considered as if Yaakov Ovinu is present in each one, serving Hashem. Why is this so? Because Yaakov Ovinu put tremendous efforts into his Torah and Tefilla in the Beis HaMedrash of Yeshivas Shem V’Ever. As a result, he laid the groundwork for all generations of Klal Yisroel to see success in their Torah and Tefilla in their Botei Medroshim, and so indeed it’s deemed that his presence is in them and that he serves in them. This also clarifies why the posuk uses the plural for tents - “יושב אוהלים” - that Yaakov dwells in two tents. He dwelt in the tent of Yeshivas Shem V’Ever, and also dwells in all the Botei Medroshim of Klal Yisroel for eternity!
What an incredible point to reflect upon, particularly each morning as we enter the Beis HaMedrash and recite the posuk of Mah Tovu - that alongside the Kedusha of each Beis HaMedrash, the Zechus of Yaakov and his impact is also present in every Beis HaMedrash. However, we must also bear in mind that if we want the Zechus of Yaakov to stand us in good stead in the places where we daven and learn, it’s obvious that we need to ensure that we are exceptionally careful in upholding their Kedusha. This means treating every Beis HaMedrash with the respect and reverence it deserves, refraining from mundane speech, remaining faithful to the Mesorah we have received regarding how a Beis HaMedrash should look, and always being mindful of what is truly fitting to bring within its walls.
The following story related by Rav Shammai Zahn zt”l, Rav and Rosh Yeshiva of Sunderland, in his ספר בית שמאי (38) beautifully illustrates the importance of this principle. In 1950, the newly established Sunderland Yeshiva moved into new premises and held a Chanukas HaBayis, to which Rav Yechezkel Abramsky zt”l from London was invited. In his speech, he quoted the posuk mentioned later in our Parsha (כ"ו:י"ח): “And Yitzchok returned and dug the wells of water which had been dug in the days of Avrohom his father, which the Pelishtim had stopped up… and he called them by the same names that his father had called them.” Rav Abramsky asked: Why was it necessary for Yitzchok to give the wells exactly the same names as his father had given them? He answered: “Now that we are beginning to build new Yeshivos and Mosdos of Torah shortly after WW2 when so many places of Torah were tragically destroyed, we mustn’t forget that these new Mosdos need to be built and conducted in line with the very same Mesorah that our Yeshivos and Botei Medroshim have always had. This is the powerful lesson that we learn from Yitzchok Ovinu. Although he was reopening the wells of his father, which the Meforshim explain allude to the Botei Mikdosh, he was careful to preserve their original names. By doing so, he teaches us that even when we build something new, we must always remain faithful to every aspect of the Mesorah.”
When we act in our Botei Medroshim in a manner that is truly befitting to them and our Botei Medroshim are conducted in accordance with the Mesorah, we can look forward not only to our Tefillos and Torah learning having success, but also to the great Zechus of Yaakov Ovinu, which remains within them for all generations, to stand us in good stead!
