Parshas Vayechi- Chill Out?

Yaakov arrived in Egypt at the age of one hundred and thirty years old. He passed away at one hundred and forty-seven. The pesukim explicitly emphasize that he lived in Egypt for seventeen years (47:28). This is superfluous information as it is a simple mathematical deduction. Commentaries (Ohr HaChaim, Ba’al Haturim) explain that the verses focus on this detail to indicate that those were the years that he was finally able to relax and enjoy. Yaakov’s entire life was fraught with struggles and challenges. Initially, he fled from a brother who wished to kill him. He then contended with the wicked Lavan. Dina was abducted. His beloved Yosef was sold. Shimon was taken prisoner as collateral. Benyamin, the remaining son of his late wife Rachel, was painfully removed from him. Finally, at the age of one hundred and thirty, he was able to enjoy the remaining years of his life in peace. These years were considered the years that he lived fully.

In Parshas Vayeishev, Yaakov returned to Eretz Canaan. After years abroad, he arrived back home. Rashi (37:2, Medresh Rabba 84:3) explains that Yaakov wished to dwell in a state of tranquility. Hashem did not allow this. He caused the strife and infighting between the brothers and Yosef to disturb this vision. The Medresh concludes incredulously: “Is their allotted portion in the next world not enough for the righteous, that they desire to dwell in tranquility in this world as well?!” Thus, Hashem ruined Yaakov’s hopes of relaxation.

This seems to contradict the reality of his seventeen years in Egypt. Why was Yaakov permitted to enjoy the later years in Egypt, and not those upon his return to Eretz Canaan?

The Ohr HaChaim further explains that due to the fact that Yaakov’s last years were good, it was as if his entire life was good. Despite all the suffering and challenges, the last seventeen positive years made the first one hundred and thirty appear positive as well.

This idea is difficult to comprehend. Upon meeting Pharaoh, Yaakov described his years as “me’at v’raim” (47:9). He said that his years were negative. Yaakov vocalized that his life was not as good as his predecessors.  He had good reason to offer such a description, as illustrated above. How do the last seventeen years of Yaakov’s life change the reality of the first one hundred and thirty?

The Gemara (Baba Basra 16b-17a) states that three people were able to taste the Olam Haba’ah experience, while still in this world. Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, were granted this incredible reward.

How can we understand the idea of Yaakov tasting the next world during his lifetime?

The objective and mission of man in this world is to achieve perfection. Every person has a unique mission that he is entrusted to accomplish. It is his sacred duty to attempt to succeed to the best of his abilities in this task. “Adam l’amal yulad.” Most people spend their entire lives working towards this goal. The hope is that at the time of their passing, they have fulfilled this all-important mission. There is no time to relax, as the work needs to be accomplished, and life is short. Three individuals finished their jobs of accomplishing their tasks, during their lifetime. For one hundred and thirty years Yaakov worked through countless struggles to succeed in his sacred mission. During that time, he was not afforded the luxury of relaxation. However, at one hundred and thirty, he had achieved this shleimus in his work. The last seventeen years of his life were therefore the Olam Haba’ah experience. Thus, he was permitted to relax and enjoy.   

There is no greater pleasure than the knowledge that one has accomplished the task they were supposed to, with its entire perfection. After recognizing that he fulfilled his life’s work, Yaakov was able to revel in that wonderful awareness. This is a unique feat reserved for our holy Avos HaKedoshim. This recognition indicated that the one hundred and thirty years of struggles were all necessary steps in order to achieve the ultimate success. Thus, the last seventeen years changed his perspective about the earlier years. He now viewed them all in a positive light.

We are not Yaakov Avinu. However, we certainly strive to fulfill the Torah’s requirements to the best of our abilities. In toiling to accomplish our life’s missions, we can tap into this Olam Haba’ah experience, with the knowledge that we are striving to fulfill our life’s work. May we merit the genuine and unadulterated feelings of real success, and use it to motivate ourselves to strive and grow further!

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