Rabbi Simon A. Dolgin


Vayeishev: Finding One's Peace


"And Jacob dwelt in the land of his father's sojourning, in the land of Canaan." (Bereshit 37.1)dove

"Another interpretation for "And Jacob dwelt" : Jacob desired to dwell in peace, but then came upon him the troubles of Joseph. (Rashi.)

The question that presents itself is why did Jacob, a righteous man, not deserve to enjoy a peaceful period of his life in the earthly world? Does one need to be wicked to find prosperity, rest, and comfort in this world?

From the Midrash, as quoted by Rashi, one has the impression that Jacob made a mistake, perhaps even committed a sin, by settling down to a period in his life he hoped would finally bring quiet for him and his family.

Rashi goes further to say: "It is apparently not sufficient for the righteous that which is prepared for them in the World- -to-Come, but they seek to dwell in peace in this world as well."

Jacob ultimately sums up the failed quest for peace in this world in his words to Pharaoh, some time later, (Bereshit 47.9): "The days of the years of my sojourning... have been few and distressing."

I appears that before  a man can achieve peace, certain conditions must be fulfilled. These conditions are suggested by the Psalmist (122.7): "May peace be within your walls, and calm within your palaces." First, one must strive for peace in his external surroundings - "May peace be within your walls." Only then can he strive for an inner peace - "... and calm within your palaces." Within Jacob's "walls" - his immediate environment - peace does not reign.

His sons are unable to get along, their actions causing him great pain, as in the cases of Shimon and Levi in Shechem, and Reuven following Rachel's death. Of his son Joseph and his brothers the Torah says (37.4): "... they hated him and could not speak peaceably unto him." Under such circumstances, any expectation on Jacob's part that his time for inner peace had arrived, however well deserved after his own life of trials and suffering , was premature.

Peace is never a passive process. It does not just happen because its time has come. Rather, it is a positive state that must be actively pursued. We pray daily to "The Maker of peace in the heavens" that, "He make peace over us." Peace does not happen. It is made. And once we make peace in our outer walls, we are ready to make peace in our inner palaces.