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Yaakov Avinu is truly the father of Am Yisrael. Unlike Avraham or Yitzhak, he is successful in bringing up all his sons to be part of Bnei Yisrael. There is no Yishmael or Esav among his 12 sons. Though it is true that they on occasion display questionable judgment, as in the case of Levi and Shimon in Shechem, and that they act terribly when ten of the brothers turn on Yosef and sell him into slavery, they still remain committed members of Am Yisrael. This is not a small accomplishment!
Yaakov is keenly aware of the double edged sword that Mitzrayim represents to Am Yisrael. On the one hand, it would be a place of bounty and security in a time of famine, due to the fact that Yosef is the viceroy of Egypt and is looking out for his people. On the other hand, Am Yisrael has left Eretz Yisrael, and they can be tempted into complacency or, worse, assimilation. After all, Mitzrayim is the most advanced, powerful and wealthy country of the ancient world. Yaakov understands that as the leader of Am Yisrael it is his obligation to set certain parameters for the Jews’ stay in Egypt. Furthermore, he realizes that it is only him who has the authority to do so.
Being a great leader with great foresight, Yaakov does several things to send clear messages to Am Yisrael that though they find themselves in Egypt, they are not to become Egyptian in their beliefs and actions, for Egypt is a Pagan, immoral society. In Vayigash, when Yaakov finally meets Yosef, Rashi tells us that although Yosef falls on Yaakov’s neck and begins to weep, Yaakov does not cry. In fact, he uses the opportunity to say Kriyas Shema! The Omek Hadavar asks: could Yaakov not find another time to recite the Shema? Rav Grilek comes up with a wonderful answer: at the moment of the reunion between Yaakov and Yosef all of Bnei Yisrael are present, along with Pharaoh and the rest of the Egyptian leadership. What an audience! Yaakov wants to make the point to all who are present that he is a Jew, and that he is proud and open about his belief in the Almighty. Hence he recites the Shema at that very moment as a reminder to Am Yisrael and a proclamation to the Egyptians – we are proud believers in Hashem, and that is what defines us!
In Parshas Vayechi Yaakov goes to great pains to make sure that Yosef understands that he has no intentions of being buried in Egypt even temporarily, and that Yosef must promise him that he, Yosef, will bring him back to Ma’aras Hamachpela in Eretz Yisrael to be buried with his fathers. The language used by Yaakov is very clear and uncompromising; why? The Midrash tells us that Yaakov has two great fears regarding being buried in Egypt: one, that the Egyptians would turn his gravesite into a holy site, which would encourage Avoda Zara, and blur the line between a Kever Avos and a Pagan holy site, and two, that Bnei Yisrael would interpret his burial in Mitzrayim as his approval of Egypt as a Holy Land like Yisrael. That would lead to the end of Am Yisrael, since they would never be interested in returning to Eretz Yisrael – assuming they don’t assimilate! Hence, he insists on being buried in Ma’aras Hamachpela, for it would serve as a powerful reminder that Eretz Yisrael is the one and only Eretz Hakodesh!
Yaakov is a genuine Jewish leader, always thinking of the future and destiny of his people. May we emulate and learn from him!
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Yotav Eliach |
