Rabbi Yonason SacksThe Legacy of Yaakov Avinu

Rabbi Yonasan Sacks

The death of Yaakov Avinu not only marks the end of Sefer Bereishis, but also the end of an era. The Ramban, in his introduction to Sefer Shemos poignantly explains: "Hishlim hakasuv Sefer Bereishis shehu sefer yetzira bechidush haolam, veyetziras kol notzar, uvemikrai haavos shehem k'inyan yetzira lezar'am - the Torah completes Sefer Bereishis which is the account of creation as well as a record of all that happened to the forefathers who are a form of creation to their seed." In so many ways, the triumphs and challenges Yaakov Avinu serve as a moral guide and, as the Ramban terms, a yetzira, a creation for all generations.

The Meshech Chochmah observes that twice, first in Parshas Vayetze (28:11-12), and later in Vayigash (56:2), the Torah emphasizes that Hakadosh Baruch Hu appears to Yaakov Avinu at night, bemaros halayla. Although Yaakov Avinu was forced to leave Eretz Yisroel and endure the difficulties of galus, HKB"H reassures him, specifically at night, that even becheshkas hagalus (in the darkness of exile) one can experience hashra'as hashechinah- Divine Revelation.

Although all of the avos (forefathers) engaged in tefilla, Yaakov Avinu instituted Tefillas Arvis, the evening prayer. He taught us the appropriateness of tefilla when one is surrounded by darkness.

The Meshech Chochmah explains that especially during galus, one must embrace darchei ha'avos, the paths and priorities of our forefathers. Just as a korban can only continue to burn at night if it was offered during the day, and just as a navi can only merit prophecy in chutz laaretz if he experiences nevuah in Eretz Yisroel first, so too our avodas Hashem in galus must emulate and embrace derech ha'avos.

The Zohar (vol. 1, 146b) comments "Al sheloshah devarim haolam omed: Hatorah - da Yaakov, haavodah - da Yitzchak, gemilus chassadim - da Avraham." Each of the avos represents a pillar on which the world stands. The middah of Yaakov Avinu is Torah.

May we, as descendants of Yaakov Avinu, embrace this legacy, enabling the light of Torah to permeate the darkness of galus.