Last night I was witness to a most tragic conflagration; a car exploded on the parkway. As flames raged wildly, and tires popped in angry bursts, I grabbed my tehillim and prayed for a miracle. We humans are conditioned to think we are immortal and often take life for granted not realizing that our existence is ephemeral. Moments like these to jolt us from our lackadaisical attitudes, and get us contemplating our purpose on earth. Upon learning the occupant perished in the blaze I began pondering the transience of life.
What is life?
This week's parsha discusses Yaakov Avinu's descent to the land of Egypt and the final years of his life. Surprisingly, the parsha is called Vayechi - and he lived. Our sages explain that "Yaakov Avinu lo meis" "Yaakov our father did not die." True life is a spiritual life, a life connected to the Giver of life as it is written: "Veatem hadvaikim baHashem, chayim kulchem hayom," "You who cleave to Hashem, you are all presently living."
Indeed, Yaakov our father typified true existence, he was "a dweller of tents," a student at the yeshivos of Shem and Ever. Although he left his tent of learning to work in the world, Yaakov always made sure Torah, eternal life, would accompany him.
When the Tzemach Tzedek was a small child, he asked his grandfather, the Alter Rebbe, "How can Yaakov Avinu, the greatest of the fathers, experience the best years of his life in the land of Egypt, a land steeped in immorality?" The Alter Rebbe responded that Yaakov sent Yehuda ahead to build life sustaining infrastructure; shuls and yeshivos. When a Jew learns Torah, he connects to Hashem and can truly live and grow even in a despicable place like Egypt.
Rashi explains on the verse "Yaakov our father did not die," that "as long as his descendants are alive, he is alive." When we follow in the path of our forefather Yaakov, which is a path of Torah and G-dliness, we merit eternal life and enable Yaakov's spirit to live within us. The Alshich explains that the name Yaakov is the aspect of our forefather that did not depart but remains alive with his children in exile. The word Yaakov, the heel, signifies battling the challenges this physical world.
When we remain steadfast to our faith and do not get influenced by the transient gratifications of this world, we access transcendental and eternal life like Yaakov. Indeed, as we presently find ourselves "at the heels of Moshiach," we must continue the life of Yaakov by "choosing life." With this avodah we will merit the final redemption, when "death will be permanently eradicated" we will experience everlasting life.
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