Miller's Musings Parshas Vayigash: The Power Within

בס"ד

Leaving Eretz Yisroel is something that must not be taken lightly, requiring tremendous thought and substantial legitimisation.  Yaakov was told to do just that and as we would imagine, did so with regret and some trepidation.  As explained in the Meshech Chochma, Hashem, sympathetic to his concerns, reassured him with the words “Do not fear to go down to Egypt … I will descend with you into Egypt, and bring you back again (to be buried), and Yosef will place his hands on your eyes”.  The fact that Hashem would be with him in his descent and his eventual return to the Promised Land, is something that would certainly provide some comfort to Yaakov.  But what is meant by the consolation of Yosef placing his hands on his eyes?

Perhaps the primary concern for Yaakov was the spiritual decline that he felt he would surely experience in a land so steeped in depravity and immorality.  Even at his ripe old age he was concerned for the damage that could be caused by exposure to a place so immersed in sin, were he to view such decadence.  This may be what Hashem meant by the solace that he offered Yaakov that Yosef’s hands would cover his eyes.  His message to Yaakov was to look at Yosef who had retained his lofty standing despite the pressure he was under to conform to their iniquitous ways and realise that the strength Yosef had, represented by his hands, actually originated in the teachings of you, Yaakov, and in the moral fibre that you imparted to him.  It was this that enabled Yosef to cover his eyes and remain Yosef Hatzadik and it is this that would shield Yaakov’s eyes from sin and his soul from contamination.

To be in a position of inner struggle is a necessary evil of our existence and is in essence the reason we are here.  Although part of our task is to whenever possible try and avoid situations that will entice us towards the wrong path, inevitably those circumstances will arise and it is crucial at these moments to recognise and have faith in the inner strength that each one of us possesses.  We all have at our disposal tremendous fortitude that can overcome all those ordeals that are sent to test us and we must fully believe that if a challenge has been given to us we have the power to triumph over it.  That confidence in ourselves and the incredible strength inside each and every one of us may ultimately determine our achievements.  Know your own strength, believe in yourselves and harness all that you have in pursuit of greatness. 

*May the kedusha of Shabbos reveal the power within us*

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לרפואה שלימה:  שרה יעל בת ברכה אסתר