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The traditional
rabbinic approach as to why this portion of the Torah is the titled
“vayechi Yaakov” even though the subject matter of this Torah portion
concerns itself with the death of Yaakov is that as long as his
descendants – the Jewish people – are alive and functioning, then Yaakov
is still considered to be alive.
The message here is
one of immortality and continuity, family and generations. Like life
itself and its counterpart, death, these words mentioned immediately
above are difficult to define. Other nations and empires that are long
ago extinct in terms of presence and participation in current world
events, also have biological descendants alive and present in today’s
world population.
Nevertheless, we
think of Rome and Babylon, Greece and Persia, the Holy Roman Empire and
even the Soviet Union as being swept into the dustbin of history, never
to rise to power again. So, the rabbis must be telling us a deeper
message than mere biological and genetic survival from the past until
today.
I have often
thought that a great part of the secret of Jewish survival lies in the
fact that different – completely different – generations are able to bond
together, recognize each other and have the same common goals, values and
lifestyle. My father was born before the Wright brothers flew an airplane
and he lived to see human beings walk on the moon.
In spite of the
difference in age, background and even language, he had close contact
with and a great influence on his children, grandchildren and
great-grandchildren. They somehow recognized who he was in his essence
and beliefs and easily responded to his presence and later treasured his
memory. So, to a certain extent we may say that he lived on through his
descendants.
Yaakov recognized
the different personalities, qualities and talents of each of his
children and grandchildren. His blessings to his children and
grandchildren, as recorded for us in this week’s Torah reading, clearly
indicate this fact. He had no one-size-fits-all blessing to bestow. And
it is perhaps that fact that guarantees that as long as his descendants
are alive, Yaakov also lives.
For every one of
his descendants could say in response to the blessing that each one
received – all of them different and personal – that their old father and
grandfather understood them and recognize them for what they were. And because
of that, they treasured his memory and championed his cause throughout
the ages.
Relationships that
bridge time and space, generations and world upheavals can only be forged
upon the recognition and acceptance of the uniqueness of the parties
involved. There is no blessing ultimately in national and personal life
that is brought about by conformity. The pithy remark of the great Rebbe
of Kotzk was: “If I am I and you are you, then I am I and you are you;
but if I am you and you are me, then I am not I and you are not you.” The
blessings of Yaakov to his future generations reflect the wisdom of this
truism.
Shabbat Sharon
Rabbi Berel Wein
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