Vayeishev
A Tzaddik’s Distress
The sale of Joseph teaches that distress leads to greater tranquility. Tzaddikim desire the tranquility that comes with Moshiach. G-d desires the prayers of tzaddikim. We have suffered the distress; like Jacob, we must now pray for the time of tranquility that follows Redemption.
The name of a particular Torah reading should tell us the general content of the whole portion. But in the case of this week’s portion, Vayeishev, the name and the content seem to contradict each other.
The word vayeishev indicates rest and quiet, the tranquility Jacob sought after his many years of struggling first with Esau and then with Lavan. Yet the Torah reading itself tells of the sale of Joseph, and Jacob’s agitation and anxiety that followed. Indeed, the Sages explain this as cause and effect: Jacob sought to dwell in tranquility, so there occurred the upheaval concerning Joseph.
Jacob’s desire – his request to rest after his trials and tribulations, to lead a quiet life – had the opposite effect, for as a result of the request G-d brought disturbance and disorder into his life. This sequence of events – a desire for repose becoming the direct cause for commotion and turmoil – applies not just to Jacob, but to tzaddikim in general, as the Sages explain. When the tzaddikim – the righteous – seek and desire to dwell in tranquility, G-d responds, what is prepared for them in the World to Come is not sufficient but they want to dwell in tranquility in this world, as well!
Since it is the tzaddikim – the righteous – who desire to dwell in tranquility, surely there is nothing wrong with such an aspiration.
Why then does G-d react negatively to this desire, so much so that he arouses the opposition, so to speak, bringing adversity and causing distress to the tzaddikim, as was the case with Jacob?
To understand G-d’s complaint, as well as reconcile the apparent contradiction between the name of the Torah reading and its content, we first have to examine the nature of the tzaddikim’s desire. For they seek to dwell in a tranquility that is perfect and complete, which means not simply physical repose, but a state of spiritual delight as well. In the World to Come, which the tzaddikim seek, there is neither eating, nor drinking, but only glorying in the Divine Presence.
Yet such tranquility belongs in the World to Come, not in this world. In the here and now, the task – especially of tzaddikim – is to work, to perform mitzvos, to accomplish our Divine service of transforming the physical realm into a dwelling place for G-dliness. It seems, then, that the request of the tzaddikim – to dwell in tranquility – is inappropriate, at least given the current situation.
However, there is a deeper reason tzaddikim seek tranquility in this world. They desire their Divine service – their mitzvos and Torah study here in the physical realm – to be perfect and complete. And that situation can occur only when the world is at rest, as in the days of Moshiach. As Maimonides writes: All Israel, the prophets and sages desired the days of Moshiach so the nations would leave them in peace, for the nations would not permit them to learn Torah or observe mitzvos properly. When Israel finds rest, it will increase in wisdom.
Nevertheless, achieving such a situation prior to the coming of Moshiach resembles receiving a reward that should come only after the task – the Divine service of transforming the world – has been completed. This is also why the troubles of Joseph overtook Jacob: his desire to dwell in tranquility was apparently not appropriate for his situation.
BESURAS HAGEULO
It has been said many time of late, especially in the last few months, that according to all the signs our generation is the last generation of exile and the first generation of Redemption. Since all aspects of Divine service have already been completed, we stand now ready for the true and complete Redemption through our righteous Moshiach, as an imminent and immediate reality.
...According to what was said above (and has been stated many times), that according to all the signs all necessary spiritual refinements have been accomplished, it's obvious why we are now ready for the Redemption.
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Further, and this is essential: Recognition, acknowledgment and praising G-d for the miracles He performs, in addition to the concept of expressing gratitude, is relevant to the coming of our righteous Moshiach in the true and complete Redemption. For as the Gemara states:
G-d desired to make Chizkiyahu Moshiach... the attribute of Divine Justice said to G-d... Chizkiyahu for whom you did all these miracles (who was saved from Sancheriv and healed of his illness) and didn't sing praises to You, You want to make him Moshiach?"
Obviously, in our context, publicizing the miracles which G-d has done in our times is relevant to bringing the true and complete Redemption in actual reality!
From this we can derive an essential lesson:
- Sanhedrin 94:a.
- Rashi's commentary there.
(From the talk of Shabbos Parshas Vayeishev, 23 Kislev, Blessing of the Month Teves 5752)
