Parshat Vayechi
14 Tevet 5762
December 29, 2001
Daf Yomi: Baba Metzia 37


Guest Rabbi:
Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld
Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, NY

This weeks� Parsha begins by telling us that Yaakov lived in Egypt for 17 years. The Gerer Rebbe, Sfat Emet, is surprised that the Torah would tell us that Yaakov actually LIVED in Egypt. After all, how can it be said to �live� in the land of Egypt? We would expect another verb such as �Vayeshev� which would mean �he stayed.� A man like Yaakov could not find a proper mode of life in a pagan land such as was Egypt. To live implies a useful and fruitful life which certainly would be difficult in Egypt of that day. (It is not better today.)

The Sfat Emet answers the question by saying that indeed Yaakov did actually live in Egypt and the Torah uses the verb to live to teach us that in all circumstances and all conditions Jews have to attempt to live a useful and productive Torah life. In fact the Jewish people learned the lesson and we built Synagogues, Yeshivot and other vital institutions throughout the ages in the Diaspora.

There is, it seems to me, another important point to be made. In the Parsha some weeks ago Yaakov also is said to live in a certain place yet the term used is �Vayeshev Yaakov�, Yaakov dwelled in the land of his fathers. The difference being that �Vayeshev� implies a settling down, a permanent dwelling in a certain place. Rashi describes it as �Layshev B�shalom� which means to settle down in comfort. Even though Yaakov was not granted an undisturbed and peaceful life after his return from Lavan still that was his intention. The lesson here was that in Eretz Yisrael we are in a state of Vayeshev, dwelling securely, whereas in the Diaspora it can only be Vayechi to live rather then to dwell securely.

Like Yaakov, however, it has not yet been granted to us to be in a state of Vayeshev but that is the ultimate purpose and aim of our people when we speak of residing and being in Israel. We are now unfortunately witness to the truth and distinction between Vayeshev and Vayechi. Jewish history teaches us that whenever we believe to be in a Vayeshev mode we suffer a rude awakening. In the Diaspora outside of Eretz Yisrael we are in a state of Vayechi as opposed to Vayeshev. American Jews especially have a reason to be proud of their accomplishments in every sphere of Torah activity and we are grateful to be living in these free United States of America.

Yet, we do declare three times a day �V�techezenu Aynenu B�shuvchu L�tzion.� �May our eyes behold when You HaShem return to Zion in Mercy.� In Eretz Yisrael, despite the present anxious situation, we are a people that is basically in a Vayeshev state; Israel is as the late Menachem Begin pointed out �Hatachanah HaSofit�, the final terminal.

Let us hope that day may come as soon as possible.