The last of the twelve parashot of Bereshiet.
One could ask themselves, if having to choose only one of the five books of the Torah, which one would you choose?
The answer could easily be …Bereshiet.
For Bereshiet is a complete book and ends perfectly with the cornerstone being laid for Am Israel in the twelth parashat: Vayechi.
The sages say that you can take Bereshiet and look at it as the complete human story:
The purpose of our creation.
The transformation of the soul from a spiritual entity to a physical human being.
The manner in which we develop our self and environment.
And finally the realization of the purpose of life.
Translated as follows:
Bereshiet – Purpose
Noach – Tranquility
Lech Lecha – Journey
Vayeira – Vision
Chayeh Sarah – Invigoration
Toldot – Production
Vayetzei – Excursion
Vayishlach – Delegation
Vayeishev – Integration
Miketz – End
Vayigash – Union
And finally
Vayechi – life (itself)
Sages translated “vayechi” as “and he lived”
Making thereby a connection to eternal life.
The Lubbavitcher Rebbe describes the Death of Jacob as
“and he Lived” he- being Jacov. For Jacov’s life is immutable… Jacov lives on…
Looking at how the Torah is written, one can see that this parashat is literally closed. It has no indentation in it’s typography. It’s a closed book. Rashi points out that this is not only the closing of a book, but the book is closed, meaning that Jacov cannot speak to the end of days to his sons on his deathbed. He whishes to reveal the “ketz”, the end of days but he can’t.
In Jacov’s words - Pesachim:
“Perhaps there’s an inadequancy in my bed (read: offspring) like Avraham who fathered Ishmael, or my father Yitchak who fathered Esau”….
Now the last of the three patriarchs finds himself fearful again to be given the responsibility - to give out, hand over responsibilities among his own offspring.
We saw Jacov being fearful before in Vayyishlach when, after hiding from Esau for twenty years, he returns to face his brother calling him “adoni” – “Sir…”.
But this time his fear is deeper and more spiritual. For perhaps Jacov knows that not all of his sons are perfect.
“Shimon and Levi are brothers, instruments of violence are their weapons…in their anger they slew a man….cursed be their anger…”
Or in Reuven’s case: ….”hasty as water, you shall not excel; because you went up and violated your father’s bed…”
Jacov’s fear can be understood as the fear of a man who fears HaShem. A man who fears his own responsibility.
He must have known that he was the last of the dynasty.
In Hebrew,
“shalshelet, which is derived from “shalosh” – number three, is the word for dynasty. And according to the Kabbalah, each of the patriarchs created a different spiritual awareness in this world.
Each contributing to the three pillars necessary to complete the establishment of the nation.
Avraham is identified with Chesed.
Yitzchak with the opposite of kindness; gevurah and din (strength and justice)
And Jacov with the merging of the two namely Tiferet – beauty.
Jacov knows he’s becoming Israel. It’s up to his sons to grow into Israel. Jacov is fearful that there maybe a klipat gevurah – a counterfeit, among them and maybe it’s not time for the nation to be formed.
From Pesachim:
His sons responded to Jacov’s fear:
His sons said to him: Shma Israel HaShem Elohenu, HaShem Echad. And Jacov immediately responded: Baruch Shem Kavod Malchuto Leolam Vaed.
His sons trying to assure their father that they truly accept the One God. As if to say: Yes we understand your fear, but herewith we declare our believe, our dat, and now you can be assured.
And as Jacov says this later on his deathbed again, he doesn’t do so sadly but as to uplift himself. As did Rabbi Akiva when the Romans tortured him. According to the Talmud it was time to uplift himself and to infuse the people with a sense of nationhood…
So the Shema becomes the perfect end to a book not because someone is dying but because a Nation Is Born.
This is why Bereshiet is a closed book.
Not necessarily chapter one of the Torah; but rather it’s own beginning, middle and complete end.
With Vayechi being the last chapter giving official birth to Am Yisroel- Bereshiet is complete…
And what kind of end?
A happy one?
That’s depends how Am Israel handles themselves.
It will be tested soon with the tide changing in Egypt.
But that’s another, completely separate book.
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