A light unto the nations

The Torah portion of Vayeitzei tells us the story of Yaakov, the third of our forefathers. While his birth and early life are discussed in the previous portion, we now learn of his life after leaving his father’s home. It is here where we find Yaakov forging his own unique identity and approach to serving G-d.

The first words of this portion, “and Jacob went out of Be’er Sheva,” allude to one way in which Yaakov differed from his father and grandfather. Beer Sheva was named for the oath (shevuah) of non-aggression which Yitzchak (and Avraham before him) made with Avimelech, the king who ruled the land at that time. The Midrash explains that one reason for Yaakov’s departure was to avoid having to make a similar oath.

Yaakov’s avoidance of this oath, which his father and grandfather were happy to make, was an expression of his unique approach to engaging with forces of negativity.

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Both Avraham and Yitzchak engaged with the world they lived in, but only to the extent necessary to ensure that it did not interfere with their Divine service. They did not seek to influence the powers around them, except to ensure that their Divine service would not be disrupted. They were therefore satisfied with a treaty that guaranteed Avimelech would not harm them, even though it meant committing to not attempt to influence him and his people.

Yaakov on the other hand, engaged with the forces of opposition with the intent of transforming them. He was not satisfied with being left alone, and instead sought to be a light onto the nations. Yaakov saw each challenge as an opportunity for growth and was not willing to cede any ground.

This distinction is also evident in the way that Avraham and Yaakov respectively dealt with Lavan. When Avraham witnessed Lavan’s dishonest practices, he did not seek to influence him to change his ways. Instead he suggested that they each go their separate ways: “If you go right, I will go left….”

Yaakov on the other hand traveled to Charan, the place that represented the depths of Lavan’s depravity. He married into Lavan’s family and worked for him for two decades. While Lavan never changed his ways, Yaakov succeeded in reinforcing the power of light and goodness, specifically through his engagement with Lavan. It was that time spent in Lavan’s house that allowed Yaakov to build a family and attain great wealth.

Avraham and Yitzchak engaged with the forces of evil only as much as necessary to prevent them from causing harm. Yaakov worked to transform those places of darkness into sources of light.

Just two weeks ago, the Jewish world reacted with shock and pain at the murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, Hashem Yinkom Damo, one of the Chabad shluchim to the United Arab Emirates. Much has been said about Zvi’s dedication and self-sacrifice on behalf of the Jewish people living in that land. Zvi was there because he knew that there were Jews who needed his help to engage with their Judaism. But beyond that, his presence there was a declaration that the light of Judaism must be brought to every part of the world.

True and enduring peace does not come from building walls between ourselves and those who seem to seek to do us harm. As descendants of Yaakov we must go to every place and share with them the values of light, love and life that G-d gifted us in the Torah. PJC

Rabbi Yisroel Rosenfeld is the rabbi at the Lubavitch Center and the executive director of Chabad of Western Pennsylvania. This column is a service of the Vaad Harabonim of Greater Pittsburgh.