An Outline of the Rebbe's Explanation of Rashi
Parshas Vayeishev
Likkutei Sichos Volume 15, Pages 310 – 317
Rashi in His Own Words
בראשית ל"ז, ב': אֵלֶּה | תֹּלְדוֹת יַעֲקֹּב יוֹסֵף בֶּן שְבַע עֶּשְרֵה שָׁנָׁה הָׁיָׁה רֹּעֶּה אֶּת אֶּחָׁיו בַצֹּאן וְהוּא נַעַר אֶּת בְנֵי בִלְהָׁה וְאֶּת בְנֵי זִלְפָׁה נְשֵי אָׁבִיו וַיָׁבֵא יוֹסֵף אֶּת דִבָׁתָׁם רָׁעָׁה אֶּל אֲבִיהֶּם:
רש"י אלה תולדות יעקב: ... ועוד נדרש בו וישב ביקש יעקב לישב בשלוה, קפץ עליו רוגזו של יוסף. צדיקים מבקשים לישב בשלוה אומר הקב"ה לא דיין לצדיקים מה שמתוקן להם לעולם הבא, אלא שמבקשים לישב בשלוה בעולם הזה:
Bereishis 37:2: These are the generations of Yaakov. When Yosef was seventeen years old, being a shepherd, he was with his brothers with the flocks. He was a lad, and was with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. Yosef brought evil tales about them to their father.
Rashi Heading – These are the generations of Yaakov: ... (The use of the word "dwelt" in the previous verse) is further expounded upon. When Yaakov sought to dwell in tranquility, the troubles of Yosef sprang upon him. The righteous seek to live in peace. Said the Holy One, blessed be He, "That which is prepared for the righteous in the world to come is not sufficient for them, but they also wish to dwell in tranquility in this world?"
Synopsis
The Torah begins this week's portion, Vayaishev, telling us that Yaakov dwelt in Israel, his father's land. The Hebrew word for dwelling also has the connotation of settling, becoming settled. After overcoming all the difficulties posed by his brother Aisov and his father-in-law Lovon, he finally returned home to the land of Israel. Rashi tells us that he was expecting to live in peace. However, rather than peace, he was confronted by a new round of troubles. The troubles he bore due to his youngest son, Yosef, sprang upon him, as told in detail in the Torah portion. Rashi states that the peace and serenity prepared for the righteous in the world to come should suffice. Tranquility in this world should not be necessary for them.
Commentaries explain that this world merely serves as the antechamber that leads to the banquet hall, the world to come. One who is concerned about happiness in this world demonstrates that he is more worried about the entrance than the banquet hall.
Yaakov devoted his entire being to Hashem and His service. How is it possible that he was more concerned with this physical, material world than with the world to come?
The Explanation
The explanation is that Yaakov was indeed interested in having a tranquil life in this world. However, his interest was not motivated by the world's physicality. His motivation was the ability to learn Torah and do Mitzvos in this world. He did not care about peace and serenity in this world as ends in themselves. His genuine concern was to achieve tranquility as a means. When one is at peace, he can accomplish far more in the service of G-d than one who lacks peace of mind.
Rashi's Explanation
This week's Torah portion begins by telling us that "Yaakov dwelt in the land of his father's travels, in the land of Canaan. These are the generations of Yaakov. When Yosef was seventeen years old, he was a shepherd with his brothers and the flocks. He was a lad, with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. Yosef brought evil tales about them to their father." Rashi cites the words "these are the generations of Yaakov," and after commenting, adds the following. "(The explanation as to why the word 'dwelt' in the previous verse is used in the past tense) is further expounded upon. When Yaakov sought to dwell in tranquility, the troubles of Yosef sprang upon him. (How is it that) The righteous seek to dwell in tranquility? Said the Holy One, blessed be He, 'What is prepared for the righteous in the world to come is not sufficient for them, but they also wish to dwell in tranquility in this world?'"
Several commentaries explain this as follows. The world to come is an (allegorical) banquet hall. That is in contrast to this world, which is merely the antechamber that leads to the "banquet hall." One must always feel as if one is visiting this world. Seeking tranquility in this world is akin to confusing the reception hall with the antechamber!
Difficulties in Understanding Rashi
Yaakov was one of our forefathers, all of whom are the heavenly Chariot. What is the meaning of this? Why should our holy forefathers be called the Chariot? It is because "all of their limbs are sanctified and separated from worldly matters. They serve solely as chariots, i.e., the means of carrying out Hashem's supernal will every moment of their lives." How is it conceivable that one of so great a level could confuse the reception hall with the antechamber?
Furthermore, we face another difficulty. According to the above explanation, seeking serenity in this world is certainly not a positive trait. However, as Rashi's words (which he quotes from the Sage's) stand on their own, there is nothing negative about seeking peace in this world. The only problem with seeking peace in this world is that the righteous should be satisfied with serenity in the world to come. However, there seems to be nothing wrong with being interested in having a tranquil life in this world, per se.
The Explanation
From the above questions, it is clear that Yaakov was not looking for physical comfort in this world. On the contrary, he sought spiritual peace. He was anxious to live a spiritual life in this world. Just as in the world to come, "there is no eating or drinking, etc." Hashem told him that he would have to wait for that state. In the words of our Sages, "today we must perform them (meaning Mitzvos and Torah study), and tomorrow (meaning in the world to come) we will receive their reward." We must make the most of every moment for work, with no thought of relaxation.
However, we understand that Yaakov's Divine service was just that. He served G-d without any ulterior motives whatsoever. He was not even seeking spiritual rewards. How can we say that he was interested in a peaceful, serene life in this world? His only interest was in fulfilling Hashem's Will!
Furthermore, we find that he did ultimately attain serenity in this world. Further on, we read that "the troubles of Yosef" finally came to an end. He discovered that Yosef was alive. Not only that, but Yosef had reconciled with his brothers. Additionally, despite becoming entrenched in Egyptian life, Yosef remained faithful to G-d and his Torah. He remained the same Tzaddik he had been when he left home many years earlier. At that point, Yaakov and his entire family moved down (not merely south, but to a place which was "down," lower spiritually) to Egypt. Yaakov spent the last seventeen years of his life there.
Regarding those seventeen years, the Torah says, "And Yaakov lived." That was life for our forefather Yaakov in the truest sense of the word. In the lowest part of this world, he attained the most incredible peace, tranquility, and serenity.
We can understand from all of this that Yaakov would not have served G-d to attain tranquility of any sort, whether physical or spiritual, in this world. Yet, that is precisely what happened.
This can all be resolved based on what Rambam teaches us in his Laws of Teshuvah. There, he writes that "all Israel, the prophets and the Sages, have yearned for the Days of Moshiach so they can rest from the oppression of the gentile kingdoms which do not allow them to occupy themselves with Torah and mitzvot properly. They will find rest and increase their knowledge to merit the world to come."
Likewise, he writes in the Laws of Kings as follows. "The Sages and the prophets did not yearn for the Days of Moshiach to control the entire world, to rule over the gentiles, to be exalted by the nations, or to eat, drink, and celebrate. Rather, they desired to be free to involve themselves in Torah and wisdom without any pressures or disturbances, so that they would merit the world to come, as explained in the Laws of Teshuvah."
In other words, Yaakov indeed did desire tranquility in this world. However, he wanted this only as a means, not an end in itself. He wanted to devote himself to Torah study and Mitzvah performance. Peace of mind enables one to serve Hashem with his entire being in this physical world.
The problem was that he was not quite ready. That is why Rashi explains that "When Yaakov sought to dwell in tranquility, the troubles of Yosef sprang upon him. What is prepared for the righteous in the world to come is not sufficient for them, but they also wish to dwell in tranquility in this world?" He still needed to look forward to the peace he would find in the world to come. He had not yet reached the spiritual level required to attain the revelation of the world to come while still in this world. He still needed to toil. However, after having "the troubles of Yosef sprung upon him," he was elevated to an even higher level. Therefore, in Egypt, he was able to begin living. He began living the life of Yaakov. He attained the life of the "World to Come" in this world and hence served G-d free of any concerns.
A Practical Lesson from Rashi
Hashem knows how difficult it is for us to focus. We live in a seemingly advanced world, however, one in which distractions abound. We have it easier than previous generations, yet we are busier and more preoccupied than they were. We genuinely need Moshiach, not tomorrow, or in an hour, or even in a minute. We need him now! Only then will we be able to rest from the tyranny of the darkness around us. Only then will we be able to focus on that which is essential. Only then will we begin to live in the truest sense of the word.
(Adapted from the Chassidic Discourse beginning with the words Sholom Rav 5738)
