At the beginning of this week’s Parsha, Parashat Vayeshev, the Torah says vayeshev ya’akov, “and Ya’akov settled.” Rashi brings a Midrash that Ya’akov wanted to live a peaceful, calm life after everything he had been through. He had faced Esav, lived with Lavan, and experienced years of struggle and pain, and he felt ready for menuchah, for tranquility. But instead of peace, the Torah immediately begins the story of Yosef, one of the most painful chapters of Ya’akov’s life. Chazal, our Sages of blessed memory, explain that this was not a punishment. Hashem was teaching Ya’akov that a life filled with challenge is not a sign of failure, but a sign of deep purpose.
Chazal teach that mitzvot and good deeds done in this world create an infinite reward in olam ha-ba, the world to come, a reward that cannot be measured or repaid here. When a person lives a life of complete comfort and calm in this world, it can feel as if everything has already been paid back. Hashem wanted Ya’akov’s mitzvot to remain pure and eternal, not something that could be exchanged for peace in this world. The challenges that followed were not taking something away from Ya’akov but protecting something far greater for him. His struggles preserved the priceless value of his life’s work.
This idea is beautifully illustrated in the story of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his students. When one of his students left the Beit Midrash and became wealthy, the others felt tempted and began to question whether a life of Torah and struggle was worth it. Sensing this, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai took them outside and turned to Hashem in prayer, and the valley became filled with gold coins. He told his students that they were free to take as much gold as they wished but warned them that choosing reward in this world can come at the expense of eternal reward. The students understood the message and returned to the Beit Midrash, realizing that true wealth is not comfort, but a life whose meaning lasts forever. So, in our lives, when we see struggles, moments that feel heavy or confusing, we should remember that they are not signs that Hashem has turned away from us.
Sometimes they are signs that Hashem believes in us, shaping our hearts through effort and growth, and helping us build a life of depth, meaning, and reward that will last far beyond this moment.
As we enter Chanukah, a time when we light candles to spread light into darkness, we are reminded that even small acts of faith and perseverance can illuminate the darkest moments. Just as the Chanukah lights grow each night, our ability to turn struggle into light grows as well, helping us bring warmth, strength, and hope into our own lives and into the lives of others.
May you have Shabbat Shalom and Chanukah Sameach.
Rabbi Yisrael Amar