Thoughts on Parashat Vayechi (and Shemot) 5785
Once, a wise rabbi taught his students about the internal struggle within each person. He said, “Inside every one of us, there are two souls. One soul embodies our desires for anger, jealousy, and negativity. The other soul represents love, compassion, and hope. “One student, puzzled, asked, “Which soul prevails?” The rabbi replied, “The one you nurture. Just as we light the Shabbat candles to bring in the light, we must nourish the soul of goodness and kindness through our actions and thoughts.” He continued, “When faced with challenges, remember that your choices reflect which soul you are feeding. Choose wisely, for in doing so, you shape not only your life but also the world around you.”
So, why did Jacob and all our ancestors choose to settle in Egypt?
It all began with a natural disaster—a severe drought and famine struck the land of Canaan. Faced with this desperate situation, Jacob and his family had no choice but to journey to Egypt in search of sustenance.
Fortunately, one of our own, Joseph, was already there. Although his journey to Egypt was fraught with hardship and stemmed from unfortunate circumstances and the actions of others, through it all, God had a plan. He took what began as a nefarious act and transformed it into a blessing for our people.
This story beautifully illustrates one of God’s incredible powers: the ability to turn even the worst situations into something good. However, it serves as a reminder, too. We should never take for granted the need to honor and respect that power, and we must be cautious not to provoke it.
Why did we leave Egypt? It was a political disaster caused by a regime change, about which we read right at the outset of the Book of Exodus:
A new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. He said to his people, “Look, the Israelite people are much too numerous for us. Let us deal shrewdly with them, so that they may not increase; otherwise, in the event of war, they may join our enemies in fighting against us.” So they set taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced labor; they built garrison cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Raamses. But the more they were oppressed, the more they increased and spread out, so that the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites. The Egyptians ruthlessly imposed harsh labor upon them, making life bitter with mortar, bricks, and all sorts of tasks in the field. (Exodus 1:8-14)
It seems that disasters are a significant force that has shaped our fate as a people. These two disasters are just the beginning; our entire history is marked by them: the destruction of the First Temple, the Second Temple, and so on. But this isn’t unique to us—it affects all nations. However, there’s something distinctive about how we respond to these challenges. While many nations endure unimaginable suffering, we’ve developed the resilience to leave those terrible situations behind, both physically and spiritually.
Why is that?
It’s rooted in our faith and one of its core principles: we don’t accept suffering as an unavoidable cosmic reality. That mindset is more aligned with pagan beliefs; if you’ve sinned against Gaia, you must accept her punishment. In this view, there’s no forgiveness or escape; it’s simply part of the universe’s nature. Christianity has adopted this perspective but has also modified it. It teaches that we must endure suffering first, and only through that suffering may we find forgiveness—or not. In this way, our faith empowers us to navigate through adversity rather than resign ourselves to it.
We, as Jews, have never believed that human suffering is of cosmic and unavoidable nature. That’s the message of the Story of Creation: In Gan Eden, there was no suffering. It came into being as a result of human action. While there are forms of suffering that we cannot escape—such as the psychological pain that follows the loss of a loved one—this is perhaps the only instance that Judaism recognizes as unavoidable and cosmic in nature. Even so, our tradition has developed numerous practices to help us cope with it.
We, human beings, are called to live in happiness and blessing. Almost every suffering and tragedy is, by definition, avoidable. Unlike the Ancient Greeks, we don’t believe in a cosmic inevitability of tragedy. This belief embodies one of the most optimistic yet challenging messages Judaism offers to the world, distilled into two key principles:
- There is hope in every situation, as long as you are alive. No matter how dire the circumstances, a spark of hope can always guide us toward brighter days.
- You have a responsibility in every situation. Strive to recognize this responsibility in every moment of your life, even during times of joy and celebration. Embrace the opportunity to make a positive difference, no matter how small.
Remember, we are all connected, and looking out for one another is a sacred duty. Stay vigilant, and if you cannot, entrust someone close to you to be your guiding light. Together, we can transform even the most difficult challenges into sources of growth, resilience, and profound meaning.
Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Mirski
