פרשת וישלח
This week’s Parsha opens with Yaakov, having just finished dealing with Lavan and all of his shenanigans, now having to deal with his brother Eisav, who wanted to murder him. In attempting to defend himself, Yaakov split his camp into two groups, hoping that if one of them is caught, the other could escape to freedom. During this tumult, Yaakov realized that at a certain camp site, he had left behind some small trinkets, which he decided were important enough to turn back for and retrieve. In doing so, Yaakov found himself alone at nighttime, and the angel which represents Eisav and the dark forces attacked Yaakov and fought with him all night, but was unable to harm him due to Yaakov’s incredible merit. At the end of this skirmish, this ministering angel wounded Yaakov on his sciatic nerve, and for this reason, we do not partake of the Sciatic nerve when consuming any animal.
However, there is something rather troublesome about this story. Why would Yaakov endanger his life for some seemingly insignificant vessels? We know that one’s physical wellbeing is of utmost importance in Torah law. One is required to avoid injury at all costs. Why would Yaakov be so concerned about his money that he would put himself in harm’s way to save a few dollars? Chazal explain that from this incident, we learn that a righteous person views his physical possessions in a very unique light. He understands them to be gifts from Hashem, and therefore treats them with great care and respect. He does not denigrate them, and he will do everything in his power to protect them because there were entrusted to him by the Master of the Universe. The Ari Z”L explains this and says that if Hashem chose to bestow upon a person these particular belongings, than it cannot be by chance, and therefore each and every one of our effects can be used for some Mitzvah in the world, and it is an exciting challenge to determine what they are there for. He compares this to other “Machsherei Mitzvah” – items used for Mitzvah purposes. Just as a person wouldn’t dream of throwing his Lulav or his Tallis on the floor when he is done using them, similarly to do so with one’s undershirt or pajamas would be almost equally disgraceful.
On the other hand, the non-Torah outlook on amassing wealth and possessions is slightly different. This can be demonstrated by the continuation of the Parshah. In the next few verses, Yaakov attempts to give Eisav a massive gift in order to try to alleviate Eisav’s hatred for him, an attempt which seems to meet with success. When Yaakov first offers the gift to his brother, Eisav responds by saying, “יש לי רב” – “I have lots of stuff.” Chazal explain that this is a language of arrogance and imagined power. Eisav viewed financial resources as a way of adopting authority, and manipulating people. Indeed, a brief look around the world will yield a clear demonstration of what money means and symbolizes to Eisav. Whereas Yaakov responds by saying, “יש לי כל” – “I have everything I need.” This type of attitude has always been the hallmark of the proper Jewish outlook on money – a means to an end. For a Jew, each dollar earned is a chance to serve Hashem, and if, for some reason, he was given less, than obviously that is all he needs to fulfill his mission in life.
R’ Yerucham Levovitz, the famous Mashgiach of the Mir Yeshiva used to often quote a story about a certain famous Ascetic or Stoic philosopher who decided to abandon all of his worldly possessions in order to seek true spirituality, and left himself only his water pump, reasoning that he could not live without water. At one point, there were thirsty guests visiting him, and they stuck their heads right into the stream of water that ran near him. When he saw this, he got rid of his pump as well, realizing that it too was an unnecessary possession. However, explained R’ Yerucham, the Torah has an entirely different view on one’s assets as we explained. For a Jew, each and every acquisition is a personal gift from his Maker, and an opportunity to grow, and should be treated accordingly, with great dignity and respect. Even R’ Yehuda Hanassi, who claimed about himself at the end of his life that although he was fabulously wealthy, did not derive any unnecessary pleasure from his wealth in this world, never went and abandoned any of his property. He kept it, and utilized it, rather then scorning it by discarding it.
On a parallel vein, R’ Yerucham would bring the Midrash on the next verse in the Parsha. The verse says, “And Yaakov remained alone” which the Midrash comments is referring to the fact that just as Hashem is “alone” in the upper realms, so to Yaakov was alone on the lower realms. The Midrash is teaching us that just as Hashem is completely self-sufficient, requiring nothing outside of Himself to achieve happiness or totality, so was Yaakov completely self-sufficient, requiring no external aid to feel whole. On a practical level, how can we reach this state? By choosing to use the gifts that Hashem has given us, and by realizing that we have exactly what we need, we will succeed in freeing ourselves from the shackles of envy and greed, and will eventually reach this class where nothing outside of ourselves can move us in any way because we will have achieved internal satisfaction and feel completely unaffected by world events. Ideally, this is the state we are all meant to reach just as Hashem is in this state at all times.
Perhaps this understanding is best stated in the simple, yet oft misunderstood Mishnah in the fourth chapter of Avos. The Mishnah says, “Who is a wise man? He who learns for all men. Who is a strong man? He who conquers his evil inclination. Who is a rich man? He who is happy with his lot. And who is an honorable person? He who honors all others.” This Mishnah is cute, but come on, who is a rich man, the guy with the enormous bank account! Who is really strong? The guy who works out every day. This Mishnah seems to be talking nice theories that don’t ring true in the real world. However, based on what we explained, this Mishnah makes perfect sense. All of these precious traits, in their most basic form can easily be taken away. Recent financial development will certainly convince us that money is not always here to stay. The same is true with physical strength, and honor. Even wisdom, which the world claims to be the one enduring commodity, is not always accessible. However, the Mishnah is giving us a universal formula for success. If we view wealth as being content with what we are given, then each and every human being is capable of wealth at any given moment of the day. You can win the lottery right now! If we think of honor in terms of how people view us, we could spend an entire lifetime chasing a dream, whereas in the Torah’s view, honor is always available by simply honoring another human being and acting in a respectable manner. Physical strength waxes and wanes depending on one’s age and physique, but true inner strength of character is a choice, and can never be taken away from a person. And even wisdom, which may not be available in books or with expert teachers, can always be gotten by utilizing the people around us. Everybody knows at least one thing that we do not, and if we are thirsty enough, we will certainly gain oodles of wisdom by culling it from the collective intelligence of the people around us. From this Mishnah and from Yaakov Avinu it is clear that happiness and completion are ours for the taking, and no force can stand in our to reach them, and when we have attained these precious gifts, they can really never be taken away.
May we all merit to utilize the gifts that Hashem has given us and always feel content with our lot!