 | | In this week's parsha, Parshat Veyeitzei, Yaakov embarks on the long journey from Be'er Sheva to Charan, as it says, "And Yaakov departed from Be'er Sheva and went to Charan" (Bereshit 28:10). Rashi tells us that the words, "departed from Be'er Sheva" are superfluous. The Torah only needed to say, "And Yaakov went to Charan!" Why does the Torah need to tell us that Yaakov left his homeland when this aspect of the narrative is clear? Rashi, based on the Midrash, answers his own question by saying, "The departure of a righteous person from a place makes an impression, for at the time that a righteous person is in a city, they are its magnificence, they are its splendor, and they are its grandeur. [Once] that person has departed from there, its magnificence has gone away, its splendor has gone away, its grandeur has gone away" (Rashi on Bereshit 28:10). By telling us that Yaakov left Be'er Sheva, the Torah is teaching us just how important the presence of righteous people is to community, and once they depart, the community feels the void their absence creates.
However, the Kli Yakar raises an interesting question: "Did not Avraham and Yitzchak travel from place to place?" Why, then, is the effect of these righteous individuals’ departures not mentioned like Yaakov's? "It is because," the Kli Yakar explains, "in all the previous departures, the righteous people left no one of comparable stature behind them. Thus, it is obvious that their departure left an impression and their absence would be felt. However, here, in the case of Yaakov, Yitzchak and Rivkah remained. Therefore, one might think that Yaakov's absence would actually not be felt at all!" This is why the Torah needs to tell us that Yaakov departed from Be'er Sheva - to teach us that when a righteous person leaves a city, a town or a community, their presence is always felt, regardless of the fact that other righteous people may be left behind.
I think we can all be encouraged by the words of Rashi and the Kli Yakar. No matter where we live, our presence, our voices and our efforts will always be viewed as essential, and if we are ever absent, our absence will truly be felt by all. Certainly, this is true at CTI, where every single person's contributions leave lasting impressions on the community. Even when we think no one will notice when we are "not there," because other people will be, our absence will be felt, because our presence matters.
This Shabbat, let us reflect on what a blessing it is to be a part of a community which cherishes each other's presence, which delights in each other's company, and truly feels a sense of longing when even one person is not there to join us. As Jews, we are all called "righteous," as the Prophet says, "Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter" (Yeshiyahu 26:2). The righteousness we impart onto our community is the righteousness the community feels missing when we depart. Let us always feel confident in the goodness of our contributions and may we always know just how important we are to our community, so that together, we may all realize that which is said, "How goodly and pleasant it is for brothers and sisters to dwell together in unity!" (Tehillim 133:1).
Shabbat Shalom!
-Rabbi Dan
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