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Was Jacob Happy?
By OJ | November 27, 2007
This parasha opens 37:1????????? ???????, ???????? ???????? ??????–????????, ???????? which the Izbitzer Rebbe (Mei haShiloah) says not to read literally as “and Jacob dwelt in the land of his father’s sojournings, in the land of Canaan” but as “and Jacob was Happy (meshivat nefesh) in his father’s attributes, in the land of humility (from ???)”. Why does he read it this way especially when so many things go wrong in the parasha?
Perhaps the secret (sod) is that since Jacob left Canaan in trickery and fear for his life with nothing but the shirt on his back, he returned to inherit his father’s blessings with a full family and wealth of possessions. But this did not make him haughty. His prayer at Beth El (Luz) that he return in safety was fulfilled.
It is taught that he was so modest, that when he was giving his brother Esau gifts, Esau at first rejected him “I have much / ?? ?? ??” but Jacob insisted countering “I have all / ?? ?? ???” being as Jacob was satisfied with himself.
The lesson to be learned here is that happiness can be best achieved in humility, as in Pirke Avot “Who is Rich? He who is happy with his portion”.
