Shabbos Parashas Vayigash - 5777

Shabbos Parashas Vayigash - 5777

Rabbi Hal Miller

And He said, "I am the G-d, G-d of your father. Have no fear of descending to Egypt, for I

shall establish you as a great nation there." [Bereishis 46:3]

Numerous verses in this week's parsha, and numerous commentaries as well, make

certain we understand that Yaakov's leaving the land promised to the Jews and going into

exile in Egypt was in fact G-d's idea, and Yaakov had G-d's permission to go. Why was it

necessary to go to such lengths to make this point?

Even moreso, why did the Jewish people end up in a "ghetto" in Goshen instead of being

assimilated into Egyptian society in the capital?

Talelei Oros, in the name of R'Yosef Shaul Nathansohn explains that "Yaakov's primary fear

was that the pressures of exile would cause the Jewish people to abandon their heritage and

to assimilate into Egyptian society, effectively tolling the death knell for their collective identity."

This explains why G-d had to say something like our verse, but doesn't answer either why this

was bad, nor why the Torah and Chazal go to such lengths in discussing this topic.

We know from [46:28] that Yaakov sent Yehudah ahead to establish a yeshiva in Goshen.

Does this mean that we can live anywhere there is a yeshiva? Or perhaps it means that we

must teach Torah wherever we live? If so, then it would make sense for us to live scattered

with the non-Jews and teach them Torah.

But Yosef went to great lengths to keep his family separated from the Egyptians, setting up the

ruse about being shepherds to make them appear vile to Egypt. He established the first Jewish

ghetto, rather than allow the family to assimilate or even to live scattered among the goyim.

Ramban gives us reasons for Yosef doing this. He says that Yosef knew his father would not

agree to go into the Egyptian cities to live, and that Yaakov and family would become destitute

if they remained in Canaan. However, since our verse shows that Yaakov had already been

convinced, by G-d no less, to travel out of Canaan to Egypt, it would seem far-fetched that he

would refuse to do whatever Yosef put to him once he got there.

So what do we learn from all this? We belong in our land. But, there are times and reasons

why we must seek other places to live, whether as individuals or as a nation. When we go into

exile, there are some requirements. First, we must do everything we can to prevent falling

into the trap of assimilation, both for ourselves and our brethren. Second, we must live in a

place of Torah, not as modified by the place we live but as given to us by Moshe Rabbeinu.

Third, we must teach that Torah, both to our own people and to those living around us. And

fourth, we must plan for our return home.