Shabbat Parashat Vayigash | 5769

National Jealousy

(based on Ein Ayah, Berachot 1:79)

Gemara: [Regarding the name,] Reuven, Leah said: “See the difference between my son and the son of my father-in-law. My father-in-law’s son, even though he knowingly sold his status of firstborn, what does it say about him? ‘Eisav hated Yaakov.’ In contrast, my son, even though Yosef took his status of firstborn, still he was not jealous of him.”

Ein Ayah: Reuven is the firstborn of Israel; therefore, he is representative of all of Israel. Israel’s attribute in relation to the other nations parallels Reuven’s relation to his brothers. Thus, Israel taught the world the good trait of forgiving and doing good to those who cause one anguish.

In this way we see the difference between Israel and the nations of the world, who are jealous of Israel because of its advantage over them. The main advantage is only in the realm of the spirit, which mainly comes from the good choice to act in a straight manner. Therefore, those [who choose differently] are the ones who sell their own status of firstborn. Why are they steeped in desires? That is why they are not elevating themselves in degrees of intellectualism, while Israel succeeds when it sets out on the path of wisdom. Despite this fact, “Eisav hated Yaakov.”

In contrast, they pursue us, forcibly take our firstborn status, and have pushed us out of the desired Land and plastered us with false libels. Nevertheless, are eyes are looking forward that Hashem should open up the eyes of all inhabitants of the world to follow the path of Hashem, to know Him and to serve Him. Our eyes do not at all wait for revenge. We end off our prayers: “… that all the evil of the land shall turn to You, all of those who inhabit the universe should recognize and know that to You does every knee bow…”