Foresight
Did you ever encounter a problematic situation where you were faced with a quandary, only to discover that the solution was already present right before you?
We are taught that our forefather Jacob’s best years of life, were those he spent living in Egypt.
The question is obvious: How were his best years, those he spent in Egypt? Egypt wasn’t a place particularly known for its moral or religious values.
The answer is that Jacob had foresight. He was a visionary who knew how things tend to play out. Therefore, even before traveling to Egypt, he sent his son Judah ahead to establish a house of study - a Yeshiva - where his family members would be able to study Torah.
The strength and fortification this Torah environment and community provided, made it possible for Jacob’s years spent in Egypt to have been his favorite and best.
This message is particularly meaningful today – the 10th day of Tevet. (Today is a Jewish Fast day known as: ‘Asara B'Tevet’). On this day we commemorate the Babylonian siege around Jerusalem, which set off a series of events and led to the subsequent destruction of the Holy Temple.
It’s interesting that the siege of Jerusalem created a desperate environment where Jews were ‘stuck’ together. Under those difficult circumstances they were forced to unite and put their differences aside to face their shared challenge and threat to their existence. Who knows, perhaps if this unity was present before the siege, much sadness and destruction could have been prevented?
Although today we are not under siege, let us learn from Jacob about being proactive and preemptive. Why wait for problems and crisis to bring us Jews together?
Why do we need enemies to unite us? Let’s preempt! Let’s celebrate our commonality and brotherhood without the need of outside reminders.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Yossi Zaklikofsky