The Secret of the Blessings: Why Was Yaakov Avinu Obligated to Receive the Blessings Through Deception?
Lesson No. 102 | Monday, Parashat Devarim, 1 Menachem Av 5757 - Rosh Chodesh Meal for Donors at the Old Beit Yaakov Hall - Part 2 (Continued from 101)
Why didn't Hashem reveal to Yitzchak that Esav was wicked, just as He revealed to Avraham about Yishmael? A deep secret about the power of the blessings given to Yaakov specifically when he was dressed in Esav's garments, in order to guarantee the abundance of blessing for the Jewish people in all generations and in all situations.
Wandering in Order to Greet the Shechinah (Divine Presence)
The entire spiritual work of a person in this world is to be on the roads. Great tzaddikim spent all their days wandering and traveling. The Rebbe said about the "Shpoler Zeide" that he made a nest for himself in heaven like Shmuel HaNavi. Shmuel HaNavi would travel all year from city to city, from Beit El to Gilgal and to Mitzpah, in order to speak to and strengthen people, and only one day a year would he arrive at his home.
This is what the disciples of the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid of Mezeritch received – that one must travel around and go from city to city. R' Tzvi of Zidichov would rebuke the Komarno Rebbe in his childhood and shout at him: "Why aren't you traveling? Why are you being lazy? On the roads you will greet the Shechinah (Divine Presence), if you travel you will see the holy Shechinah (Divine Presence)!".
The Condition for the Resting of the Shechinah (Divine Presence): Shalom Bayit
However, the main resting of the Shechinah (Divine Presence) upon a person depends on his shalom bayit (peace in the home). It is forbidden for a person to leave the home and set out on the roads out of a quarrel, when his wife is not appeased. This is an absolute prohibition.
The Arizal writes in Shaar HaPesukim and in Sefer HaLikutim, that the main fulfillment of the mitzvah of:
"Love your fellow as yourself"
is specifically with one's wife. A person must always ensure that she is happy. The holy Zohar says that one must tell her: "You are the most perfect, you are the wisest". And the woman is indeed wise, as we saw with Sarah who understood more than Avraham, and Rivkah who understood more than Yitzchak.
The Tremendous Question: Why Didn't a Heavenly Voice Descend to Yitzchak?
With Avraham and Sarah, a dispute arose surrounding Yishmael. Sarah saw the danger in him, while Avraham was very distressed by this. Immediately, a heavenly voice descended and said to Avraham:
"Whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her voice"
Avraham received an explicit prophecy that Sarah was right and he must banish Yishmael.
Here arises a tremendous question that has accompanied me for many years: Why didn't a heavenly voice descend to Yitzchak Avinu as well? Yitzchak was, after all, the greatest of prophets, who spoke with Hashem face to face. Why didn't Hashem tell him explicitly: "It is a pity on your investment in Esav, he is wicked, selling non-kosher meat and playing with swords, do not bless him"? Why was there a need for a move of cunning, that Yaakov should come through deception in order to receive the blessings?
The Secret of the Blessings for All Generations
The answer to this conceals within it the most wondrous of secrets. Hashem knew that if Yitzchak would bless Yaakov as "Yaakov the tzaddik," the blessings would take effect and reach only generations of tzaddikim. The blessing was given to a tzaddik, and if, God forbid, a generation would arise in which there were wicked people in the Jewish nation, the blessing would cease and they would suffer from poverty and illnesses until a generation of tzaddikim would arise again.
Hashem wanted the blessing that Yitzchak blesses Yaakov to be for all generations and for all situations. Therefore, in His immense wisdom, He decided to conceal this from Yitzchak's eyes and let him make a mistake. Hashem wanted Yaakov to receive the blessings when he was dressed in Esav's garments, as if as a "wicked person".
When Yitzchak blesses the one he thinks is Esav, he is essentially establishing that even one who appears as completely wicked deserves blessings. Thus it was guaranteed that the blessings would continue to accompany the Jewish people always, even in periods of spiritual decline. No accusation will be able to nullify these blessings, because Yaakov was blessed as Esav. In the merit of this concealment, the Jewish people remain blessed in every situation and for all eternity, as it is stated:
"You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed."
Part 1 of 2 — Lesson No. 102
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