The parashah begins with the events just preceding Ya'aqov's passing from this world. It details his preparations for leaving his family. Then, it ends with the passing of Yosef HaTzaddik. The loss of these two righteous men began the spiritual descent that would ultimately culminate in slavery to Egypt.
Ya'aqov and Yosef would merit to have their bodies returned to Eretz Yisrael for burial. Both merited a place uniquely suited to them. Ya'aqov rested with his fathers and mothers alongside Leah, and Yosef (thanks to the dedication of Moshe Rabbeinu in carrying his bones on the trek to Eretz Yisrael) was interred at Shechem. Not only was this the place where Avraham built the first altar to Hashem, it was also the place where Yosef had been sold down to Egypt.
Even knowing that the family was facing a long, hard haul into the ever-expanding exile, still Ya'aqov, near his end, was focused on redemption. He wanted to reveal the keitz to his sons. Similarly, Yosef was, at his end, focused on ultimate redemption when he instructed that his body to be taken along when the exile would end and the redemption would come. Even though both knew they would not live to see it, still this was the goal. And this is the goal for all of us, even today. The goal of the Final Redemption remains the focus and expected end result of everything that we do throughout our entire lifetimes.
May we be the generation to witness it in our own lifetime. And so may it be His will.
~ SHABBAT SHALOM ~
Shabbat Shalom:
ReplyDeleteAs Chazal teach us - 'the reason for creation is the coming of Moshiach
tzdkeinu, the Geulah Shlaima! This will be the time when the whole universe will know/understand there is only Hashem. Ain Od Milvado'!
chelm
Amen
ReplyDeleteThe other tribes would also merit to be buried in Eretz Yisrael - not just Yaakov and Yosef.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the correction.
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