Vayishlach: Chapter 26

"Fear not, you worm Jacob"

Synopsis

Rabbi Yehuda leads a discussion of the title verse and the regenerative power of the children of Yisrael. There are two explanations for the comparison of the children of Yisrael to the "worm," as well as an explanation of the comparison of the children of Yisrael to clay, which actually signifies glass. Finally, an interpretation of "O men of Yisrael" reveals it to represent the Tree of Life. Because the children of Yisrael cleave to the Tree of Life, we are told, they shall one day rise from the dust and be established as one nation to serve God.

Relevance

The Tree of Life is a realm of pure Light and energy, devoid of darkness, death and decay. While our world is a domain of constant desire for Light, the Tree of Life reality embodies infinite Light. Standing in the way of our deepest desires, and the endless Light that can fulfill them, is a single curtain - the ego of man. Our darkened world gives us the opportunity to earn and create the Light by striving to remove all aspects and influences of our ego. This spiritual commitment is how a man cleaves to the Tree of Life. By helping us eradicate our egos, these verses connect our souls to the Tree of Life reality.

Blood Evil Fear Jacob War Worm

250. Rabbi Yehuda began the discussion with the verse, "Fear not, you worm, Jacob, O men of Yisrael; I will help you, says Hashem, and your redeemer, the Holy One of Yisrael" (Yeshayah 41:14). Come and behold, the Holy One, blessed be He, put all the heathen nations in the world under certain ministers, as we learned, and they all follow their Elohim, as it is written, "For let all people walk each in the name of his Elohim" (Michah 4: 5). They all shed blood, wage war, rob, beat, and fornicate. They mingle with those who cause evil. Thus, their power to harm increases.

250. רִבִּי יְהוּדָה פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, אַל תִּירְאִי תּוֹלַעַת יַעֲקֹב מְתֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲנִי עֲזַרְתִּיךְ נְאֻם ה' וְגֹאֲלֵךְ קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל. תָּא חֲזֵי, כָּל עַמִין עעכו"ם דְּעַלְמָא, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יְהַב לוֹן לִמְמַנָּן שָׁלְטָנִין יְדִיעִין, כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר. וְכֻלְּהוּ אָזְלֵי בָּתַר אֱלָהֲהוֹן, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב כִּי כָל הָעַמִּים יֵלְכוּ אִישׁ בְּשֵׁם אֱלֹהָיו. וְכֻלְּהוּ אוֹשְׁדִין דָּמִין, וּמַגִּיחִין קְרָבָא גָּזְלִין, קַפְּחִין וּמְנָאֲפִין וְאִתְעָרְבֵי בְּכַמָּה עוֹבָדִין לְבִישׁ, וְאִתְתַּקָּפוּ בְּחֵילְהוֹן לְאַבְאָשָׁא.

Prayer Worm

251. Yisrael have no might or power to overcome them except through their mouths, THAT IS, PRAYER, as a worm has no might or power, save in its mouth. But by its mouth, it bores through everything. Thus, Yisrael are called "worm."

251. וְיִשְׂרָאֵל, לֵית לוֹן תּוֹקְפָא וְחֵילָא לְנַצְחָאָה לוֹן בַּר בְּפוּמְהוֹן, כְּתוֹלַעְתָּא דָא, דְּלֵית לָהּ תּוֹקְפָא וְחֵילָא אֶלָּא בְּפוּמָא, וּבְפוּמָא מִתְבַּר כֹּלָּא, וְעַל דָּא אִקְרוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל תּוֹלַעַת.

Fear Garments Jacob Spinning Worm

252. Another EXPLANATION OF, "Fear not, you worm Jacob," is that there is no creature like the silkworm, which produces glorious garments that are the raiments of kings. After ITS SPINNING, it produces a seed and dies. Later, from that very seed it lives again. Yisrael are like this worm. Although they die, they are revived and live in the world as before.

252. תוּ אַל תִּירְאִי תּוֹלַעַת יַעֲקֹב, מַה תּוֹלַעַת, לֵית לִבְרִיָה דְעַלְמָא כְּהַאי תּוֹלַעַת דְּמֶשִׁי דְּסִיסְטְרָא, דְּמִנָּהּ נָפְקֵי כָּל לְבוּשֵׁי יְקָר, טִיסְטְרֵי דְמַלְכִין, לְבָתַר זְרַע זַרְעִין וּמִית, וּלְבָתַר מֵהַהוּא זַרְעָא דְּאִשְׁתָּאַר מִנֵּיהּ אִתְקַיַּים כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין, וְהָא אִיהוּ בְּקִיּוּמָא. כָּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל אִינוּן כְּהַאי תּוֹלַעַת, דְאַף עַל גָּב דְּמֵתִין, יִתְהַדְּרוּן וְיִתְקַיְּימוּן בְּעַלְמָא כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין.

Clay Glass Hands House Jeremiah Resurrection

253. It is also written, "Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Yisrael" (Yirmeyah 18:6). HE ASKS, What is this clay? HE ANSWERS, It is the material of glass. Although it may break, it is mended and may be used again. IN THE SAME MANNER, ALTHOUGH THE CHILDREN OF YISRAEL DIE, THEY ARE RESURRECTED.

253. וְהָא אִתְּמָר כִּי כַּחֹמֶר בְּיַד הַיּוֹצֵר כֵּן אַתֶּם בְּיָדִי בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל. מַאי כַּחֹמֶר. אֶלָא דָא הוּא חֹמֶר דְּהַהוּא זְכוּכִית, דְּאַף עַל גַּב דְּאִתָּבַר, אִתְתַּקַּן, וְאִית לֵיהּ תַּקָּנָה כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין.

254. "O men of Yisrael" is the Tree of Life, NAMELY, ZEIR ANPIN CALLED 'YISRAEL,' because Yisrael cleave to the Tree of Life. As a result, they will be endowed with life and rise from the dust to be established in the world as the one nation that will serve the Holy One, blessed be He. As it is written, "that they may all call upon the name of Hashem, to serve Him with one consent" (Tzefanyah 3:9).

254. מְתֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, דָּא אִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי, דִּבְגִין דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל אִינוּן אִתְדַּבָּקוּ בְּאִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי, בְּגִין כָּךְ יְהֵא חַיִּין לְהוֹן, וִיקוּמוּן מֵעַפְרָא, וְיִתְקַיְּימוּן בְּעַלְמָא, וִיהוֹן לְעַם חַד, לְמִפְלַח לֵיהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כד"א לִקְרֹא כֻּלָּם בְּשֵׁם יי' לְעָבְדוֹ שְׁכֶם אֶחָד.

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