Parashat Vayechi | The Yearning for Home and Remembering Rabbi Dick Hirsch z"l
- ziva139
- 17 בדצמ׳ 2021
- זמן קריאה 4 דקות
This week we are reading the last section of Genesis, בראשית, and learn about the death of Jacob. “Then he commanded them and said to them, ‘I am about to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is opposite Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site. There they buried Abraham and his wife Sarah, there they buried Isaac and his wife Rebekah, and there I buried Leah— the field and the cave that is in it, purchased from the sons of Heth.’ When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.[1]”
Joseph and his brothers leave Egypt in a large procession on their way to the Promised Land where they are to burry their father who did not get the chance to get back to his homeland while still alive. At the end of this mission, “And after he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers, and all who had gone up with him to bury his father. When Joseph’s brothers had seen that their father was dead, they said, ‘What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!’[2]” Their fear is understandable, as we know, but so it the nature of the human soul. We have both a vindictive side to us, and we also have memories, the combination may become lethal.
In Sefer HaAgadah edited by Bialik and Ravnitski, 3rd edition 43, 112 we find an explanation to all of this. “‘Joseph’s brothers had seen that their father was dead’ and so on – what did they see that made them so fearful? That is because when they returned to Egypt they saw that Joseph left the road, and went to take a look at the pit he was thrown into by his brother… seeing that they said to themselves: he is still bitter about this and now that our father is dead, hence ‘What if Joseph holds a grudge’ However this is not what he had meant, and he went there merely to say a blessing for the miracle that he had experience at that place…[3]” The same pit, the same event, but entirely different perspectives and interpretations. Each with his own background of the events. Joseph simply wanted to pray for his good fortunes, his salvation from that dreadful pit and the tortuous way in which he became the second to Pharoah. The brothers, remembering what they have done to Joseph, are sure that now that their father is gone he will find the way to take revenge from them, and hence their fear.
Joseph comforts them, “‘Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to keep many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.’ So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.[4]” It is difficult to know if he was able to fully pursued them of his good intents but it least it was a reasonable way to assure that that they ought not to be fearful of him, even though they have wronged him. Just like his father before him, when he is about to die he swears the sons of Israel “saying, ‘God will assuredly [r]take care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here.’ So Joseph died at the age of 110 years; and they embalmed him and placed him in a coffin in Egypt.[5]”
The wish to be buried in Israel has spanned over many generations of Jews who wished to be buried here upon their death. As you may well know my rabbi and teacher, the late Richard (Dick) Hirsch Z’l has passed away a few months back. A couple of years ago so did his life partner and wife Bella Z’l. To their regret that had to spend the last part of their lives away from their beloved Israel, staying in Florida around family. Their clear wish which they expressed to family and friends was to be brought back to Israel and be buried here when the time comes. On the week after Purim it is the family’s and our intent to oblige with that wish that was so central to them.
Rabbi Hirsch Z’l all heartedly believed in the encouragement of Aliyah and saw Israel as the place for every Jew who wishes to live here. In his book From the Hill to the Mount he wrote: “To imbibe of the milieu of Israel is to rediscover the deep spiritual roots of Israel’s survival, and to be inspired by participating in the search for Israel’s eternal destiny.[6]” Thereby he stated that what counts is what we do here while we are alive. The voyage to the Land, regardless of if one actually lives here or not, is complex, interesting, demanding and challenging. Each and every one of us is a living proof of that personally, within the community and the people of Israel. The building of an exemplary society is not an easy task but is in our hands. This Shabbat we finish the reading of the book of Genesis – Bereshit – in the beginning – in just less than a year we will be back again at it. Every time a new beginning, each time with new meaning, opportunities and lessons. And we still have four books to read!
Shabbat Shalom and wishes for Good Health.
Reuven Marko, 17 December 2021, 14 Tevet, 5782
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