To refine physical matters, one realizes the only value of the material is the sparks of holiness (the pearls) contained therein and discards (disregards) the physical aspects - the sand and pebbles
A Jewish treasure hunt – a pearl (Yaacov’s genealogy) among the sand & pebbles (Eisav’s); "Earth" denotes permissible things that merely conceal sparks of holiness found within them; "Pebbles," refers to material things that are prohibited, & normally must be cast aside
*וישב יעקב לז, א
HaShem enclothed His Will in understandable reasons and in rewards for Mitzvos, to enable us to be aware of the inherent goodness and importance of Mitzvos; such understanding is to be fully appreciated in the time of Moshiach
Yaacov sought a degree of tranquility, to see the result of his “uplifting of the sparks” the revelation of HaShem’s Will; yet, only after he underwent further refinement through the "anguish of Yosef", did he merit the level of utter tranquility, that is similar to the reward to be revealed in the World to Come
וישב יעקב לז ,א
Shechem was a place prepared in Yosef’s misfortune due to his own relating of three items to his father about his brothers:
Said the brothers ate a limb from a living animal,
the brothers plotted spill the blood of Yosef in this place
Said the brothers were suspected of illicit relations,
incident with Dinah happened in this place
Said the brothers disgraced the children of the maidservants,
the split in the kingdom of David (scorn of his honor) in this place
*ויבא שכמה לז ,יד
Chanukah gives similar message: One should use pure oil (your Torah); using impure oil leaves room for rebellion
No water in the well, but there was snakes and scorpions. Water is Torah, represents bitul connecting to HaShem; without bitul one is haughty, Torah is not connected to such a person
והבור רק אין בו מים לז ,כד
Shabbos leaves a G-dly imprint on the Creation just like a seal makes the ring unique (see table below)
Tamar requested from Yehuda two personal items that were important and unique to him – his signet ring and the royal coat (marriage)
חותמך ופתילך לח, ח
Tamar Requested Signet Ring to Unite With Yehudah
Regular ringטבעתSix days of creationטבע the natural orderשם אלקיםCreator hiddenעבודה שכליתSignet ringחותםShabbosעדות וזכר למעשה בר אשיתשם הוי'Reveals ownershipעבודה של מסירת נפש