How Jacob Survived and Thrived in Egypt

As a young child, the Tzemach Tzedek once asked the Alter Rebbe how Jacob’s best years could have been in Egypt, a land of immorality.

The Alter Rebbe replied that Jacob had previously sent his son Yehudah to Goshen in Egypt to establish a center of Torah study. Thus, even in Egypt he experienced the best of life.

The story offers several lessons: (1) We must educate so that our youth seek answers to their questions. (2) To be prepared to personally answer any question that arises. (3) No matter how great the darkness around us, Torah study always illuminates the way.