Mission and vision from then until today

The Parasha in our everyday life - Vayeshev - Chanukah - 5782

Rabbi Eliezer Shenvald - Rosh Yeshivat Hesder 'Meir Harel' Modi'in

We live in an age of postmodernism and careerism that puts the 'I' and the 'now' at the center of interest and importance, emphasizing the 'personal' at the expense of the 'collective', the 'self-realization' at the expense of 'contributing to the communal', the pleasure and self-satisfaction over the 'value', careerism at the expense of idealism and the mission consciousness ('mission' was converted into 'occupation') and acting for personal reasons here and now, at the expense of caring for the future, natality, and our national existence for generations.

But will human society in general and the State of Israel in particular, be able to exist this way for days to come?! Will we be able to face these challenges in the future? Maybe, G-d forbid, this will come true:

בְּאֵ֣ין חָ֭זוֹן יִפָּ֣רַֽע עָ֑ם׃

"For lack of vision a people lose restraint" (Proverbs 29:18)?

Will the army be able to exist this way? Will it be possible to continue to maintain the social systems in general, and the voluntary systems in particular, without which society would not be able to exist?!

Because of this trend, there is a tendency to try to convert the lacking value of these actions, into different types of alternative rewards, to show those who act, what the real profit is, a 'give and take' equation. But can it really be a substitute?! Can it really work overtime?! Especially in those areas that cannot be promoted without personal sacrifice and risk-taking, which cannot be rewarded!

When speaking about Yaakov Avinu, it is expressed in the Scriptures and Midrashim of Chazal that he acts not only for personal and family reasons but out of a mission for generations. His vision: the Israeli nation will be built in the future from him and his family. This is how it is when he leaves for Haran to build a family:

וַיִּפְגַּ֨ע בַּמָּק֜וֹם וַיָּ֤לֶן שָׁם֙ ... וַיִּקַּח֙ מֵאַבְנֵ֣י הַמָּק֔וֹם וַיָּ֖שֶׂם מְרַֽאֲשֹׁתָ֑יו

"He came upon a certain place and stopped there for the night, for the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of that place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. (Bereshit 28:11)

לקח יעקב י"ב אבנים מאבני המזבח שנעקד עליו יצחק אביו ושם אותם מראשותיו בא המקום להודיעו שעתידין לעמוד ממנו י"ב שבטים ונעשו כולן אבן אחת להודיענו שכולם עתידין להיות גוי אחד בארץ:

"Yaakov took twelve stones from the stones of the altar upon which Yitzchak was bound and placed them under his head. The place (hamakom) came to make known to him that in the future twelve tribes would rise out of him, and they were made into one rock in order to make known to him that they would all in the future be one nation in the land". (Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 119)

The same is true at the beginning of the Parasha:

וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב יַעֲקֹ֔ב בְּאֶ֖רֶץ מְגוּרֵ֣י אָבִ֑יו בְּאֶ֖רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן׃

"Now Yaacov was settled in the land where his father had sojourned, the land of Canaan". (Bereshit 37:1)

בִּקֵּשׁ יַעֲקֹב לֵישֵׁב בְּשַׁלְוָה

"Yaacov wished to live at ease" (Rashi ibid)

Understanding that the period of wanderings, ephemerality and crises is over and now it is time to settle down and direct all resources to establish the family for the future:

"Yaacov said: I have seen affliction with Eisav, the affliction with Laban, the affliction with Dina, the affliction with Rachel, I have not rested all my days! From now on I will rest" (Introduction to Tani, responsa 9).

And perhaps even skip the bondage of Egypt:

"מלמד שחשב יעקב בדעתו ואמר: כבר אמר הקב"ה לאברהם להיות בניו גרים, הרי אני הייתי גר עשרים שנה בבית לבן משועבד בצאנו, וכו', בזה יתקיים שעבוד ארבע מאות שנה, ונתיישבה דעתו. אמר הקב"ה: מחשבתי עמוקה ממחשבתך, שנאמר: 'כי לא מחשבותי מחשבותיכם'! מיד הביא עליו עלילה ע"י יוסף וכו'

"Teaches that Yaacov thought to himself and said: G-d told Abraham that his sons will be strangers, and I have been a stranger in Laban's house for twenty years enslaved to his flock etc., that is probably the bondage of four hundred years… Hashem said: כִּ֣י לֹ֤א מַחְשְׁבוֹתַי֙ מַחְשְׁב֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם For My plans are not your plans! He immediately brought the plot about Yosef, etc." (Midrash Machti, responsa)

And so also in mourning for Yosef he was worrying about the non-fulfillment of the vision of starting a family:

כי ארד אל בני אבל שאולה ... למה שהבטיחני הקב"ה שיהא נותן לי שנים עשר שבטים, והרי מת אחד מהם, שמא לא זכיתי בהם ואני מת בשני עולמות

"I will go down mourning to my son in Sheol. What is the meaning of mourning to … Sheol? The Holy One had promised to give me twelve tribes, and here one of them is dead, perhaps I was not worthy of them, and I am to die in both worlds". (Midrash Yilamdenu, responsa 204).

Indeed, Yaacov was finally able to establish the nation named after him 'Israel'.

The mission and vision consciousness are also evident in the Hasmonean War, in the way that Yehuda prepares the warriors for battle. And it was the basis for the Maccabees' miracle victory over the modern army in the world of that time:

ויען יהודה ויאמר: היד ה' תקצר לתת רבים ביד מעטים, ואם יש מעצור לו להושיע ברב או במעט. הן לה' התשועה, ורוב חיל לא ימלט. הם בוטחים על המונם ועל רוב חילם להשמידנו עם נשינו וטפנו ולבוז את שללינו. ואנחנו נעמוד על נפשנו להילחם בעד חיינו ותורתנו.

"Unto whom Yehuda answered, It is no hard matter for many to be shut up in the hands of a few; and with the G-d of heaven it is all one, to deliver with a great multitude, or a small company: For the victory of battle standeth not in the multitude of an host; but strength cometh from heaven. They come against us in much pride and iniquity to destroy us, and our wives and children, and to spoil us. But we fight for our lives and our laws." (The Book of Maccabees I- 3:18-21)

ואחרי כן נסעו ויטו את אוהליהם מנגד לאמה. וידבר יהודה אל העם לאמור. התקדשו למחר והיו לבני חיל להלחם באויביכם אשר התקבצו להכריתנו ולאבד את מקדשנו. כי טוב לנו למות במלחמה, מראות ברע אשר ימצא את עמנו ואת מקדשנו. וה' אלוהים את הטוב בעיניו יעשה.

"So, the camp was removed, and pitched upon the south side of Emmaus. And Yehuda said, arm yourselves, and be valiant men, and see that ye be in readiness against the morning, that ye may fight with these nations, that are assembled together against us to destroy us and our sanctuary. For it is better for us to die in battle, than to behold the calamities of our people and our sanctuary. Nevertheless, as the will of G-d is in heaven, so let him do". (The Book of Maccabees I- 3:56-60)

As we read the Parasha and light the Chanukah candles on the holiday of 'education', we will remember that education for the mission and vision consciousness is a guarantee for our existence since time immemorial, and today even more than ever.

Happy Chanukah from the Hasmonean city!