2021/5782
Before Yaakov Avinu left Eretz Yisrael to go down to Egypt, Hashem comforted him by saying “VeYosef Yashit Yado Al Einecha,” “And Yosef will place his hand on your eyes”(VaYigash 46:4). This promise is interpreted by the Ibn Ezra as meaning that Yaakov wouldn’t see Yosef die in his lifetime. However, the Zohar explains these words as meaning דא רזא דקריאת שמא. How are we meant to understand this mysterious statement?
Yaakov Avinu knew already that the descent to Egypt indicated the beginning of a long and painful exile, and he feared for the future of his family and their descendants. Therefore, Hashem reassured him by saying “Ki LeGoy Gadol Asimcha Sham,” “For there I will make you into a great nation” (46:3). Though Yaakov’s worries weren’t completely misguided, Egypt would still prove to be a כור הברזל - extracting all the refuse and purifying everything that was left. The imminent exile would appear to be detrimental and unfavorable to his descendants but would ultimately prove to be a blessing in disguise and create an even holier and nobler nation. No human being can foresee the future and understand Hashem’s plan which is always for the benefit of Klal Yisrael, and the exile to Egypt was no exception. In the meantime, Yaakov would have to “close his eyes” and rely upon his spiritual faith until the truth would be revealed.
To reinforce this advice, Hashem referred Yaakov to the episode of his son Yosef. When he disappeared, Yaakov mourned the loss of his son for years. To Yaakov the loss of Yosef didn’t just represent the human loss, but also the spiritual loss of his tradition to have twelve sons. However, Yaakov couldn’t have been more wrong as Yosef was not only alive, but about to become a leading power in Egypt and in an ideal position to protect his family when they got there. Unknown to anyone, even Yaakov, Hashem’s plan was taking shape but it took many years before Yaakov recognized his mistaken interpretation of events.
This seems to be the significance of “VeYosef Yashit Yado Al Einecha”. Hashem wanted Yaakov to take a lesson from the episode of Yosef, because it would help “close his eyes” and not judge things near-sightedly. Just as Yosef’s disappearance had turned out for the best, so too the outcome of the exile would also be a blessing for Bnei Yisrael. All that we need is faith and absolute trust in Hashem.
The mysterious words of the Zohar, דא רזא דקריאת שמא focus on the same idea. We refer to Hashem in Shema as “Elokeinu,” a name associated with sternness and justice. However we also refer to him with the Sheim Havayah, which is associated with mercy. On the surface they are two contradictory attributes that coincide with each other. But we conclude Shema by saying “Hashem Echad,” as they both stem from the same, single source of ה׳, of kindness. To us, Hashem’s plan might seem harsh at times but in truth everything is for our good. That is why we are told to close our eyes during Shema, to warn us against viewing and judging things as we see them. Rather just we should leave it to Hashem to work things out in his own and merciful way. That was Hashem’s message to Yaakov before he left to go down to Egypt and into exile, and that is the everlasting advice to every Jew for all time.