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Vayechi Every Sedra in Chumash signifies its beginning with a paragraph break from the previous one. Except this week's Sedra, VaYechi. Rashi explains, "Why is this Parshah 'closed',? Because when Yaakov died the hearts and eyes of the Jewish people were closed up due to the pains of servitude to the Egyptians which then began." Asks the Sefas Emes, "But the servitude did not begin until Yoseph and all his brothers died? This was many years after Yaakov's death." Responds the Sefas Emes, "True the physical servitude did not begin until then, however, with Yaakov's death, the spirit of the Jewish people began to fall. They were no longer able to see and yearn to return to Eretz Yisroel as they did while he was alive. They became contented in Egypt. Their hearts and eyes were closed and they saw only the material comforts and were no longer able to see and feel their spiritual needs. This was real exile." Rashi continues with another explanation. "Yaakov desired to reveal the time of the final redemption to his children, and it was suddenly hidden from him." Explains R' Naphtali of Ropshitz, "For divine revelation one must be full of happiness and gladness. With depression and sadness the divine spirit immediately departs. When Yaakov was contemplating the redemption, he became aware of the terrible trials and tribulations his children, we the Jewish people, would go through in the years leading up to it. This so depressed and saddened Yaakov that the divine spirit left him and he could no longer reveal the time of redemption. R' Bunim of Pshischa points out; If one knows the time when the servitude will end it is much easier to bear. Yaakov desired to ease the burden on the Jewish people, however, from Heaven he was prevented from doing so. A few passukim further we find: And Yaakov called his sons and told them, "Gather together and I will tell you what will happen with you at the end of days." Rashi again explains, "Yaakov desired to reveal the end of days, but the Divine presence departed from him for that moment. He therefore understood to speak of other things." The prerequisite of the end of days is for the Jewish people to gather together, without hatred or anger to one another. Rather gather together as brothers. R' Bunim of Pshischa says. "Yaakov desired to tell his children what the generation of the end of days would look like. How arrogant ignorant men and women would desire to lead the Jewish people away from their traditions and the learning and observance of Torah. However from Heaven they preferred that Yaakov not speak bad about his children." If this was true of Yaakov, how careful we must be. R' Chaim, the Rav of Brisk was travelling on a train. He sat in a corner learning while those around him discussed various ideas. In the car was a Jewish Christian missionary who tried to persuade the Jews present that his god had been the Mashiach. "The Tanna'im (sages) who lived in his time knew him better than all the later generations, and they knew he was not the Mashiach, instead he was killed," said one of the Jews. "The Tanna'im, too, could make a mistake," responded the missionary. "Did not R' Akiva and many of his students believe that Bar Kochba was the Mashiach?" The Jews had no answer. At this point R' Chaim looked up and asked, "Why are you so certain that Bar Kochba was not the Mashiach?" "That's obvious," replied the fellow. "Bar Kochba was killed." "Indeed?" said R' Chaim, "So you, too, agree then, that a Mashiach who is killed is not a Mashiach." |
