"And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years." (Bershit 47.28)
"And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt." Why is this portion, of all the Torah portions, closed? Because he was closed off from all of the despair in the world. (Bereshit Rabbah 96.1) "For these seventeen years were the main ones in his life without despair." (Zohar)
The written text of the portion of Vayechi follows immediately after the text of the preceding portion, Vayigash, without the customary spacing that we find between other Torah portions. For this reason it is called a "closed" portion. The Midrash draws a parallel between this and the last years of Jacob's life, referred to in the opening verse. He had finally found peace after a lifetime of danger, suffering and intrigue. His son Joseph was second to the King and his other sons were settled and flourishing. These were the best years of his life. His days of despair were "closed." and he was able to put past suffering behind him.
This helps us answer the question posed by the Ba'al Or Hachaim: "Why was it necessary to mention Jacob's life in Egypt?" The Ba'al Or Hachaim draws further attention to the fact that Jacob is not referred to here as Yisrael, the name usually used to connote fulfillment and mastery. When Jacob heard that Joseph was alive, it says, "And Jacob's spirit came to life, and God's spirit rested upon him." From that point on, he is referred to as Yisrael. Why, then, does it say here, "And Jacob lived?"
It seems, therefore, that "Jacob", the one who needed to hold on to the heel of Esau, "lived" in Egypt. "Yisrael," the part of him that signified mastery and strength was no longer alive. Indeed, we immediately read, "And the days of Yisrael drew near to die." Why did Yisrael's days draw nearer to death? "Because he was closed off from all the despair in the world." He allowed himself to forget the past, to close himself off. For this reason, Vayechi, beginning with the words, "And Jacob lived," is a "closed" portion. It had little new to hold out for him as Yisrael.
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without the customary spacing that we find between other Torah portions. For this reason it is called a "closed" portion. The Midrash draws a parallel between this and the last years of Jacob's life, referred to in the opening verse. He had finally found peace after a lifetime of danger, suffering and intrigue. His son Joseph was second to the King and his other sons were settled and flourishing. These were the best years of his life. His days of despair were "closed." and he was able to put past suffering behind him.
