In a constantly complex and challenging movement
The Parasha in our everyday life - Vayetze- 5782
Rabbi Eliezer Shenvald - Rosh Yeshivat Hesder 'Meir Harel' Modi'in
Bnei Akiva's 'Shabbat Irgun' is a festive culmination of the organization's annual educational activities. It takes place at the end of 'Chodesh Irgun', which is dedicated to choose the path of the organization, and of the ideological issues that are at the forefront of the national religious organization in general.
The late Rabbi Kook Z''L felt great affection for the organization, and encouraged his disciple, the late Rabbi Neria Z''L, to join its leadership. In his missive to the chanichim (students/pupils) from Nissan 5694-1934 he started with warm words: "My dear warmhearted Bnei Akiva". And signed it with: "Life, peace, sharpness of mind. With loyal love, Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook". In his eyes, he saw the Youth Movement as an ideological educational tool for the realization of an integrated, complete worldview, which has complexities, tensions and challenges. It has a combination of sacred and secular, spiritual and practical life, between the private personal building and acceptance, and the giving to society and contributing to the national building. Between ideological tension and a blessed routine. A combination of the values of eternity that do not change and the modern reality that is constantly renewed and changing. And tackling the challenge of integration into society in general and between adhering to the principles and self-spiritual identity, of national religiosity.
Since its establishment (26 Adar I, 1929), it has been in a constant and dynamic 'movement' of spiritual and social processes, and in a constant confrontation with renewed challenges, and complexities, in a fresh and sweeping youth spirit. In the past decades, it often had to go out and struggle along the way. During those years it also became a leading and influential organization.
From its beginning, it was decided under the guidance of the late Rabbi Neria that the organization's Shabbat Irgun would take place on Shabbat Parshat Toldot. Due to the blessed aliyah from Ethiopia, it was decided in 5775 (2015) to postpone it to Shabbat Parashat Vayetze so that chanichim from the Ethiopian community who celebrate the Sigd holiday could also participate in the Shabbat events of the organization.
Parashot Toldot and Vayetze deal with Yaakov Avinu's experiences. As we explained in the past, Yaacov has the spiritual virtue of 'Glory', the force that integrates the Chesed and the Gevurah worlds. And the experiences of the patriarchs foreshadowed the experiences of "us", their descendants. But from these passages we also learn about Yaacov's life journey; he is in 'constant motion' and has to deal with not so simple challenges, crises and complexities. Even when Yaacov wishes to live at ease, and thinks he has finally reached the end of the journey,
וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב יַעֲקֹ֔ב בְּאֶ֖רֶץ מְגוּרֵ֣י אָבִ֑יו בְּאֶ֖רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן׃
"Now Yaacov was settled in the land where his father had sojourned, the land of Canaan". (Bereshit 37:1)
קָפַץ עָלָיו רָגְזוֹ שֶׁל יוֹסֵף
"but this trouble in connection with Yosef suddenly came upon him". (Rashi ibid), the crisis of Yosef's sale and bereavement began.
Yaacov's coping with these challenges and complexities is part of the essence of his life. It begins even before he is born:
וַיִּתְרֹֽצֲצ֤וּ הַבָּנִים֙ בְּקִרְבָּ֔הּ
"But the children struggled in her womb"
רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְרֵישׁ לָקִישׁ, רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר זֶה רָץ לַהֲרֹג אֶת זֶה וְזֶה רָץ לַהֲרֹג אֶת זֶה...
רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי שֶׁלֹא תֹאמַר מִשֶּׁיָּצָא מִמְּעֵי אִמּוֹ נִזְדַּוֵּג לוֹ, אֶלָּא עַד שֶׁהוּא בִּמְעֵי אִמּוֹ זִרְתֵּהּ מְתוּחָה לְקִבְלֵיהּ...
"Rabbi Yochanan and Resh Lakish. Rabbi Yochanan said this one ran to kill him and that one ran to kill him. Rabbi Brachia in the name of Rabbi Levy: Do not say that when he came out of his mother's womb he fought him, but Eisav's fist was pointed at him in his mother's womb. As is written the wicked are defiant from birth; זֹ֣רוּ רְשָׁעִ֣ים מֵרָ֑חֶם (Bereishit Rabbah 63:6).
The late Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Kook characterized Yaakov's experiences with the term: 'complexity', and in our words: a challenging complexity:
"In all of Yaacov's Parashiot, from beginning to end - everything is full of unparalleled 'complications'. Nothing runs smoothly: the birth, the birthright, the blessings and all his dealings with Eisav, with Rachel, with Leah, with Laban, with Dina, with Yosef, etc". (Sichot HaRav Zvi Yehuda Vayetze 5727-1966)
And from this we learn about ourselves and our ways: "We are all full of complexities and encounter challenges throughout our lives. We must not ignore, evade and flee from them. We must continue heroically within the complications, as the Kingdom of Israel is being discovered through all the complications…. And the word of G-d educates us and guides us and spreads light even in all the moves of complications. We should neither ignore nor despair from the complications. There are lots of complications, and within them appears the light of the Torah and the light of prophecy, etc. The world is not a plateau, but the Torah is ‘the Book of the Straight’ that straightens out all the complications... וְהָיָ֤ה הֶֽעָקֹב֙ לְמִישׁ֔וֹר Let the rugged ground become level… The spiritual and material encounter is full of complexities…. The Torah is the guide within it all… (Bereshit Rabbah 82:2) This is the image of man, of the universal human being and of the man from Israel - אַתֶּם קְרוּיִין אָדָםthe Jewish people, are called men. Troubles, complications and suffering are intertwined during human life" (ibid).
The Youth movement goes on and progresses in Yaacov Avinu’s path, out of the complexities and challenges, influencing and educating.
"Despite all the obstacles compared to all the surges –
בעוז קדימה בני עקיבא'! 'הידד במעלה'!
Forward, Bnei Akiva, forward to the heights!