The first Rashi of the parsha mentions how the affliction in Egypt began with the death of Yaakov Avinu. Now what exactly is the connection?
One idea is as follows: Yaakov Avinu represents Torah. Titein emes l'Yaakov, "give truth to Jakob." As long as there is Torah in its fullest sense, we are above all those around us. Umromamto al kal hamaasim, "and it picks one up above all" (Avos 6:1).
Another point: Yaakov Avinu similarly represents the concept of bein adam l'atzmo, a person's relationship with himself (as opposed to Avraham Avinu who represents chesed [kindness] and bein adam lachaveiro [interpersonal relationships], and Yitzchak Avinu who represents avoda [Divine service/prayer] and bein adam lamakom [man's relationship with G-d]). We are each unique letters in the sefer Torah, and when we have this in order, we are ready to go. There is a big rav that lives in Kiryat Sefer who specializes in teaching people this one concept: being "real" with oneself in a positive way, which then allows a person to properly teach and help others as well. Now how does one do this practically?
Number one is through hisbonenus (introspection), and taking time to think about different matters in a positive way. This is like Rebbi Moshe Shapira z"l's advice for magidei shiur (teachers of gemara): The best thing for the talmidim (students) is for you to sit down with the gemara yourself, and to take time yourself to go through the gemara and Rashi (and Tosfos) line by line and to think about what is actually being said, as opposed to just "copying over" the words of the commentators. When we have ourselves, we can take over the world! Mbsari echze Eloka, "from my flesh I see G-d."
Story:
The Alter from Slabodka z"l once "locked up" one of his best talmidim (students) in a room, and said that he is not letting him out until he comes out with a booklet of his own chidushei Torah (Torah insights). While on the one hand all what we are is what we have received from those before us, each person and their rebbeim, yet on the other hand, every one of us came here to do something new and unique, to be another "piece in the puzzle."
Question:
I've been working on a certain project for years, and just recently hit a big brick wall." "
Answer:
Aderaba (on the contrary)! Now is the time to pour out your heart to Hashem, and get whatever you want! Did you know that the entire sefer Minchas Chinuch that we have today is only a result of the theft and destruction of all of the author's writing, which left him with nothing more than his "haphazard notes" on the Sefer haChinuch, which then went onto to become a bestselling sefer that took the world by storm? It was the very destruction of all of this tzadik's life's work and writings which led to the sefer's release!
And the truth is that we have here an even deeper nekuda (point): The Madreigas haAdam (Bakashas haSheleimus 12) explains that what determines success in the service of Hashem is one thing: the ability to "wait" (l'hamtin), and to not be put off by temporary setbacks. Don't be nispael (impressed). He explains over there that this is in fact the entire methodology of the yeitzer hara (evil inclination), to try to "shake us up" and therefore get us to throw in the towel, which unfortunately works way too often.
So sit back, eat ice cream (or whatever works for you), and wait for the skies to clear.
