If a person is trying to placate someone, then the chances are pretty good that he would say things that are in accordance with that plan. When we ask for a raise, we will point out how we have contributed to the different goals of our workplace and have fulfilled our particular positions well. On the other hand if we are trying to downplay our role for whatever reason, we would not highlight our accomplishments.

So why, in this week's parsha, Parshat Vayishlach, does Rashi seem to say exactly the opposite? At the beginning of the parsha, Yaakov sends messengers to Esav, his twin brother.1 Rashi explains that he is trying to mend wounds suffered over 20 years earlier and that Esav should not be jealous of him or angry for having stolen the blessings - after all, the blessings did not come true. So why does Yaakov, according to one of the alternative explanations offered by Rashi, say that even though he lived with Lavan, he "followed all the commandments - all 613. And that I didn’t learn from his evil ways." If he is trying to placate Esav, as most of the commentaries believe, then why is he highlighting that he performed the mitzvot? And why mention that he didn’t learn from Lavan's ways - shouldn’t that be obvious? And why would Esav even care?

My brother-in-law, Rabbi Chaim Flom, z"l, explained that, in fact, Yaakov was not trying to say he was righteous - on the contrary.2 Yaakov may have been careful to perform the mitzvot but he also compared himself to Lavan. When Lavan did evil things, he was elated. He would get true joy out of his actions. Yaakov saw this excitement and was jealous - he did not perform the mitzvot with the same level of enthusiasm that Lavan had when he was doing aveirot. So Yaakov's actions were flawed and he in fact was not so righteous and, therefore, Esav had no reason to bear ill will towards him. The blessing could be fulfilled only if Yaakov was righteous and Yaakov was trying to show here that he was not righteous for he did not perform the mitzvot with enthusiasm.

How passionate are we with our lives and the path we have chosen for ourselves? Sometimes people get tired or they fall into a routine and activities are performed by rote. The passion for life gets hidden, pushed aside, or rationalized away. Where is our pleasure for the path we have chosen?

You may find this in your religious lives, family circle or work surroundings. What made you passionate about these ideals? how do we correct it? I remember once when I was in yeshiva and was having difficulty with learning, Rabbi Bronspiegel told me to learn something I enjoy. He didn’t say just try harder. He said to find something that I could get excited about.

Passion adds life to our lives. Brendon Burchard, a New York Times bestselling author, suggests to "take on real projects that you’re truly passionate about, it’s much easier to be effective, enthusiastic and excellent."3 We all want to enjoy life. This is the blueprint. Do not pursue happiness for it will evade you.4 Pursue what makes you happy and what you can become excited about. Happiness will ensue. Is that not what we all want?

Find your passion. Live it.

 

*Click here to read another logoParsha post on Vayishlach.

 

  1. Bereishit 32:4-5
  2. Note that Yaakov, according to this explanation, does not call himself righteous. Just that he performed the mitzvot and didn’t learn from Lavan.
  3. Burchard, The Charged Life
  4. Viktor Frankl, Will to Meaning p. 35ff

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Have A Great Shabbat!laughing

For More Information On Logotherapy And How You Can Create A Fuller, More Meaningful Life, Or To Book An Online Session,

  1. Call Me At +972-54-589-3399, or in Israel 054-5893399
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