וַיֵּשֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם בְּאֶרֶץ גּשֶׁן וַיֵּאָחֲזוּ בָהּ וַיִּפְרוּ וַיִּרְבּוּ מז:כח-כטמְאֹד: וַיְחִי יַעֲקֹב בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם
On Lived Influenced s’Yaakov Yisrael dwelled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen, and they took possession of it, and they were fruitful and multiplied greatly) end of Parashas Vayigash, Bereishis — (47:27 And Yaakov lived in the land of Egypt) ...beginning of Parashas Vayechi, Bereishis.(47:28
Rashi explains: “Why is this parashah closed (setumah)? Because once our father Yaakov passed away, the eyes and hearts of Yisrael were closed due to the suffering of the enslavement that began to afflict them.”
But if their eyes and hearts were closed only after Yaakov passed away, why is the Torah portion closed in the pesukim, And Yaakov lived—when he still lived for seventeen good years? Logically, this closure should appear later in the parashah with the pesukim concerning Yaakov’s passing, for that is when their eyes and hearts were closed from the suffering of enslavement.
Rather, the Torah reveals through the closure when Yaakov lived that while still alive in Egypt, Yaakov prepared and equipped the nation for the harsh upcoming exile in Egypt—the root of all exiles—so that even after his passing, when their eyes and hearts would be closed from the suffering of the enslavement, they could still endure and maintain sacred vitality within the depths of the Egyptian exile.
This is the meaning of the closed parashah: Yisrael dwelled in the land of Egypt... and they were fruitful and multiplied greatly, immediately explaining how they managed to take root and thrive in Egypt, the nakedness of the land—how they grew, succeeded, and bore fruit. It was through the merit of Yaakov lived in the land of Egypt. The name “Yaakov” symbolizes, in many places, smallness and humility (Zohar I 177; Etz Chaim II 61; Ohr HaChaim, ibid.), and the Hebrew word for Egypt, Mitzrayim, represents internal constrictions (meitzarim) and the bitterness of exile, as well as the personal constraints of every individual.
Amid all these constrictions, Yaakov instilled sacred strength and vitality in Yisrael, enabling them to stand firm in body and soul amidst the darkness of bitter exile and the tribulations of enslavement. Through the power of Yaakov lived in the land of Egypt, Yisrael endured even after their eyes and hearts were closed from the suffering of enslavement. Their spirits did not break, and their resolve remained strong.
This concept reflects the piercing and poignant statement of Rav Aaron of Karlin, the author of Beis Aharon, regarding Cain‘s question before Hashem about how he would endure the decree of exile when condemned to wander the earth: Hashem set a mark upon Cain so that no one who found him would strike him (Bereishis 4:15). This means that Hashem gave Cain a sign of strength to endure in his exile. The sign was renewed confidence in himself so that no one who finds him would strike him. His innate would protect him from what happens to those weak and confused in spirit—that everything they encounter strikes and overwhelms them.
The Holy One, blessed be He, therefore strengthened Cain by showing him how to withstand bitter exile so that no one who finds him would strike him, ensuring that he would not be shaken or destabilized by anything that happened to him. Nothing he encountered would strike him or his soul. He would remain strong and steadfast in complete trust in Hashem. Yaakov lived—in the land of Egypt!
