Nowadays, many of us feel a need to “zone out” or “anesthetize” ourselves from the pressures of life. We’ll retreat to social media or any other mind-deadening activity to escape from feeling “too much” reality.
We’ve gotten pretty good at numbing our emotions, but do we ever consider what makes us passionate? What gets our blood pumping? What excites us and arouses our emotions? And, most importantly, how do we channel those deep feelings into positive action?
This week’s parshah,Vayigash, describes the heart-wrenching reunion between Jacob and his beloved son, Joseph. For 22 agonizing years, they had been separated, with Jacob fearing the worst. What will happen at their first meeting?
Joseph’s emotional response is expected; he falls on his father’s neck and weeps (Gen 46:29).
Jacob’s reaction, however, is unusual. He does not embrace or kiss Joseph. Instead, he recites the Shema prayer (Rashi, ibid).
Why did Jacob choose this profoundly passionate, heartfelt moment to occupy himself with prayer?
The Chassidic Masters explain: Jacob knew that never in his life would his love be aroused as it was at that moment. So he chose to utilize this tremendous welling of emotion to serve His Creator, channeling it to fuel his love for G‑d.
Imagine how many tears Jacob shed during those long, anguished years. Finally, he is reunited with a child who was torn from him during his tender teen years. As Jacob’s heart spills over with an overabundance of love and gratitude, he chooses to channel those feelings into prayer.
As a parent, I often wonder, when do our children see us express our passion? In what situations do they see us express great joy or grief?
Do our children see our regret over the huge sale we missed or the expensive dish that broke, or do they see us exult over the kindness that they just exhibited? Do they witness our weighted pressures over financial matters, or do they see our eagerness and delight in helping another? What messages are we giving them about what is truly important to us?
And, in our happiest (or saddest) moments, how do we channel our most deep-felt emotions? Do we use our moments of intense happiness to give thanks and appreciation to our Creator? Do we use our successes and good fortune to remember the plight of others?
As he descends to Egypt, Jacob enters his final chapter of life. He will now prepare his children for their destiny of becoming the nation worthy of receiving the Torah, with the ultimate goal of transforming our world into G‑d’s intended home.
Through his reaction at this most passionate moment of his life, Jacob imparts an essential message for us during our own life journeys, throughout our long exile.
He teaches us to ask: What makes us passionate, and how can we direct our greatest passions in the most positive ways?
What a wonderful reunion this must be. I miss my dad since his passing. What adversaries do to him in the name of their battle axes and religious treachery, my grandmother says this well, "It is unthinkable what they do to him when he works so hard to earn a living for his family."
From Something Bad comes Something Good James, my father passed in 1984, and I still miss him.
I miss his explanation of life, his humbleness, his kindness, and his love of nature.
My father started working at age 12 to help support his family in Poland. He became very proficient at tailoring and soon dropped out of school. He wanted to earn enough money to come to America, which he did when he turned 21.
In NYC he got a job sewing dresses, and on weekends he worked in a little tailor store. That he called a labor of love, because tailoring was his love.
Fortunately, this allowed him to accumulate enough money to get his 7 siblings to come to America.
However my father had to endure a lot of abuse from his fellow workers, because of his lack of English, his ways, his religious beliefs, and his dedication to his work.
My father sacrificed so that I can be who I am.
Although much different, thankfully in many respects we’re the same.
I’m sure that you have a similar story relating to your father, and why you miss him.