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Torah Portion -
Vayigash
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Written by Rafi Jager
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Writes the Meshech Chochma, that although all three forefathers communicated with Hashem, only Jacob is recorded as having a vision of Him at night. The first time was when Yaakov was fleeing to the city of Charan to escape the wrath of his brother Esav and to find himself a wife. This week's Torah portion includes the other "night vision" which takes place as Yaakov travels to Egypt to be reunited with his long lost
son, Yoseph.
This uniqueness of Yaakov can be understood symbolically. Various commentators have suggested that Yaakov was the "Patriarch of Exile". His ability to live with the underhanded Lavan for twenty years and to emerge spiritually unscathed makes him a model for us all.
Specifically on these two occasions when Yaakov is leaving the Promised Land, the Almighty reveals Himself to Yaakov at night, as if to say, "My divine presence will even be with you even in the darkness of exile." It is for this reason that, according to the Talmud (Berakhot 26b), Yaakov instituted Aravit (Maariv), the prayer of the night. In a broader sense, Yaakov is the forefather of all life crises. As David Hamelech states in Psalm 20, "Hashem will answer you in the day of distress, the name of the G-d of Jacob will strengthen you." Yaakov teaches us, therefore, that if we stick with Hashem, He will be there to help us overcome adversity.
Good Shabbos
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