The accounts of our ancestors found in the Torah are not merely chronicles of Jewish history. Every part of the Torah is included to teach us how to worship G-d and conduct our lives.
This week’s Torah portion, Vayeitzei, speaks of Jacob’s departure from Israel to Charan. In Charan he worked for his Uncle Lavan for 20 years, married Rachel and Leah, and established the Twelve Tribes. Vayeitzei also relates his return from Charan to the Holy Land.
Jewish mysticism explains the difference between Jacob’s departure to Charan and his triumphant return. After setting out on his journey, Jacob merited a personal revelation from G-d (“And behold, the L-rd stood above him”). The Torah describes the circumstances: “And he reached a certain place”--Jacob had to be in a particular place in order to receive the revelation, and then it was only in the form of a dream. But we find 20 years later, when Jacob was returning from Charan, “angels of G-d met him there”--the angels, and G-d Himself (as explained in the Zohar), actively went out and sought him. Furthermore, this time Jacob was awake and not dreaming.
We learn from Jacob’s 20-year sojourn in Charan how much can be accomplished by “descent”-- by putting one’s physical efforts into bringing holiness into the world. Every Jew must likewise “descend” into his own “Charan”--where he must wrestle with his own version of “Lavan the Aramean,” and emerge victorious, having successfully elevated the sparks of holiness hidden in the physical world.
This is no easy task, and it requires much study and preparation. Before setting out into the world, a Jew must first ready himself in “the Holy Land,” which symbolizes the highest level of holiness. Before a Jew can positively influence his surroundings, he must be sufficiently educated and knowledgeable in Torah. Before Jacob left Israel for Charan, he prepared himself by learning in the yeshiva of Eber for 14 years. Every Jew must likewise prepare himself by dedicating time to Torah study. This underscores the importance of a good Jewish education, and in particular, the necessity of beginning a child’s Jewish education even before he is ready for formal schooling.
The theme of preparing oneself before embarking on life’s journey is also expressed in a Jew’s daily life. A Jew does not rely solely on his own power and talents, but rather, begins his day by praying and asking for G-d’s help in carrying out his mission in this world.
By preparing ourselves properly before attending to our daily concerns, we are assured of success in both the spiritual and physical realms.
Adapted from the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
By Rabbi Simon Jacobson
