The Journey Worth Taking

InspirationParsha

Jan 9

Our journey on this earth can feel taxing and burdensome at times. Yet the great mystics teach that these very challenges are the reason the soul descends into this world in the first place. When we navigate both the blessings and the struggles, the oys and the joys of life, and recognize the Divine presence within all of it, we uncover the great mystery of creation: to make a home for Hashem in the lowest of realms.

A fascinating juxtaposition of verses in the Torah carries this message powerfully, a teaching shared by Rabbi Mintz of JLI.

First, a Midrash: “Against our will we live, and against our will we die.” The Midrash explains that the soul is content Above and recoils from the difficulty, coarseness, and challenge of physical existence.

Now consider these two consecutive verses:

“Joseph and all his brothers died, as did all of that generation.

And the Israelites were fertile and prolific; they increased and became exceedingly strong, and the land was filled with them.”

What is the connection between Joseph's death and the sudden and explosive growth of the Jewish People?

Here is the teaching. When the souls encountered Joseph upon his return to Heaven, they beheld a man who had faced unimaginable trials, descended into the most morally corrupt environments, and yet emerged spiritually triumphant, having fulfilled his mission with integrity and faith. They were astonished by what a soul could accomplish in this world.

In that moment, the souls understood the value of the journey. They believed in its purpose and its potential for success.

And so the souls began lining up, clamoring to come down into this world. That is why the Torah immediately tells us that the Jewish people multiplied and filled the land.

In times like ours, it is easy to lose focus and become stuck in the challenge itself. These verses, and their placement, remind us of our eternal purpose, the precious uniqueness of each soul, and the profound meaning of our individual journeys on this earth.

Have a blessed Shabbos,

Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman

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