What Does a Person Really Need?

By Rabbi Josh (known as the Hoffer) Hoffman

Ya’akov sends a message to Eisav before meeting with him, saying “I dwelled with Lavan and delayed until now.” Rashi notes that the numerical equivalent of “garti” – I dwelled – is six hundred and thirteen. Ya’akov was telling Eisav that he dwelled with Lavan, and observed the six hundred and thirteen mitzvos. An added message he sent was “and I did not learn from his evil actions. This second message is difficult to understand. If Ya’akov observed the six hundred and thirteen mitzvos while dwelling with Lavan ,it should go without saying that he didn’t learn from his evil deeds. What was Ya’akov adding with these words?

We have mentioned in the past the explanation of Rav Ya’akov Ruderman zt”l, Rosh Yeshiva of Ner Yisroel in Baltimore. He says that it is possible to observe all the mitzvos and still be effected on one’s lifestyle, by the culture around him. For example, one may focus primarily on physical and leisurely aspects of his life, while somehow fitting in mitzvah observance.

Rav Eliyahu Lopian, in his Lev Eliyahu, says that this idea can help us explain a midrash cited by Rashi in the beginning of the sidra. When the Torah says that Ya’akov sent angels to Eisav, it means he sent actual angels. Who were these angels, that Ya’akov should have control over them? He says that they are the angels created when a person does a mitzvah. The idea that Ya’akov was sending was that just as an angel is completely spiritual, so too was Ya’akov’s observance of the mitzvos. On his way to Charan he asked God for food to eat and clothes to wear, meaning that he only asked for what was necessary for his existence. In contrast, Eisav focused on physical pleasure, as reflected in his request for some lentil soup from Ya’akov. He said, coarsely, put it down my throat. Rav Lopian adds that Ya’akov’s approach did not preclude him from pleasure in this world. His pleasure, however, came from his Torah study. In a similar vein, Rav Moshe Feinsein zt”l is quoted as asking about people not immersed in Torah, “where is his olam hazeh?,” his pleasure from this world.