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> Genesis/Bereishis > Parshat Mikketz
> Jacob and Kabbalah
Jacob in the Eyes of Kabbalah Through
the Prism of Chassidus
Thoughts on the Patriarchs from
Reb Tzadok, the Sfas Emes and Shem Mishmuel
Reb Tzadok- The role of the forefathers is to fix the world back to
the
way it was. Jacob's role is to unite his parents' qualities and to make
them forever instilled in their children. This is why we say that his
trait is truth, for it is permanent, as we say, emet veyatziv, vekayam..
Avraham and Yitzchak dug wells. Jacob just had to work hard and uncover
the wells which had been dug. It would be open now and accessible.
Man must realize that all ketarim, crowns, come from Him, ie.
Torah, kehuna and malchut, Torah, Priesthood and Kingship.
Snake separates. Jacob took away the zuhamat hanachash and
restored the purity of man. Avraham took away kin-ah through
love. Isaac took away taavah, desire,
through kevishat hayetzer, conquering the evil inclination. But he
was not totally successful. He still contained chaff. Ishmael was
very mitaveh, desirous, lustful, and Esav was kin-ah,
jealous, and he would
have killed.
Jacob is here to prevent kavod, honor. Gaavah, haughtiness,
comes from not
realizing that all is from Him. Emet, truth, denies the falsehood
that I
am the source of my greatness. He tries to instill this in his children.
Even if they do not possess it, it is part of the uniqueness of their
soul. Greatness can lead to pride. Even realizing that all is from G-d
can lead to over confidence. He must guard against this and
against a
sense of defeat that there is no hope.
Avraham was a man of action. Isaac, was passivity, "don't"s.
When Avraham died it was Jacob's role to learn to be active, though
generally he was interested in theory, instead of action.
Even physical actions were supposed to have spiritual purpose. The snake
put mixed intentions in every act. Yaakov's first attempt was to cook for
Isaac who was pure in his motives. Just as in the Yom Kippur sacrifice one
part goes to azazel, so too Yaakov gave one part to Esav.
The people of the desert generation saw only the word of G-d in the food.
So Adam before the sin only got mitzvahs by eating. After the snake the
body obscures the purpose of eating, but through cooking or work, worship,
we can fix it. Jacob fixed it by giving the bad part to the bad Esav.
Jacob gave Esav bread and lentils. The gemara in Sanhedrin 9b says the
fruit Adam ate was wheat. Jacob fixed the wheat. In the open world, the
work is not done, and Isaac is not ready to eat it. That's why it doesn't
say Isaac ate it.
Why lentils? They symbolize the world whizzing by. The righteous work for
suppressing the evil inclination, but they don't bother with the rat
race of the world. They are satisfied with little.
Jacob bought from Esav this desire to change, to chase, to do in this
world. From that day on, Jacob engaged in holy work.
Sefas Emes- Jacob has a part even in the darkness of exile. The
name Jacob takes hold even for one who cannot reach wholeness. He can fix
the evening, can connect to G-d even in times of trouble. Avraham is the
first Temple, Isaac the second, and Jacob exile which prepares for the 3rd
Temple.
When he defeated the angel, he reached the level of Adam and his mission
was over. HE should have died. G-d gave him a new mission and a new name,
higher than an angel. Jacob never dies, but Israel does.
Jacob planted in the heart of the Jewish people truth, a degree by which
they are always Israel, even if they sin.
Shem Mishmuel- Avraham uprooted falsehood, idolatry, from the
world.
Jacob brought the evil inclination into holiness. Jacob was born with
Esav, slyness, and he brought this tool of the snake into purity.
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