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| Watsons Bay Sydney the view last night |
וְעֵינֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כָּֽבְד֣וּ מִזֹּ֔קֶן לֹ֥א יוּכַ֖ל לִרְא֑וֹת Yaakov was no longer able to see." [VaYechi 48:10]
Chazal tell us various reasons why Yitzchok became blind. but why did Yaakov become blind?
Rav Shlomo Zalman Zelaznik Ztz"l. the Rosh Yeshiva of Eitz Chaim. explained with the principle that if someone suffers on your account, you are punished, even if you have done nothing wrong. In Yaakov's case we find two people whose eyes suffered on account of him. The first was Yitzchok. who Chazal say became blind so that Yaakov would be able to fool him and take the blessings. The second is Leah. whose eyes were swollen because she was destined to marry Eisav. while Rochel was supposed to marry Yaakov.
"Either of these two occurrences," says Rav Zelaznik, "were enough cause to warrant Yaakov losing his eyesight despite his complete innocence of any wrongdoing. If such is the Midas HaDin when we are completely innocent of any wrongdoing, certainly, if we actually play a part in the suffering of another person, we are in huge trouble."
Source: Revach.net
Source: Revach.net
A new shiur from Rabbi Y. Y. Jacobson: Who Was Yeshu? The Talmud, Rabbinic and Chassidic Sources
ReplyDeleteThere are many interpretations to why these things happen, and, of course, kabbalisticly, we have such an interpretation. Both reasons referred to above, Yaakov had absolutely no part in the blame, which shows how powerful the midat HaDin is. In other words, every human being is not blameless but flawed. Every movement and action can, therefore, bring on any kind of punishment to the person even if he behaves perfectly. It's all just a moral, a way of teaching to be better. If Yaakov Avinu was blamed and became blind for something he was not guilty of, what should we plain and lowly people expect. Frightening to say the least. That is why H' has promised that Olam Habah will be built with 'chesed'. Olam chesed yibaneh. May it come soon with much rachamim.
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