[Avodah] Lech L'shalom; Lech B'shalom...

[rabbirichwolpoe at gmail.com]

Micha:
> How do we fit this with the Rashi on Bereishis 37:2 "Eileh Toledos
> Yaaqov", the last part starting with "ve'od nidrash bo": "Vayeishev" --
> Yaaqov wanted to rest beshalvah... Tzadiqim want to dwell beshalvah,
> Hashem says, 'It is not enough for tzadiqim what is prepared for them
> le'olam haba', but they want to dwell beshalvah in this world'?!

> How do shalom and shalvah differ, that one is accomplished by Yaaqov,
> and the other is withheld from him?

Very good point

Permit me a "drushy" answer...

"Vayavo Yaaqov shaleim". - IOW Yaaqov had been in motion and therefore
at peace

Vayeishev - biqeish Yaaqov Leisheiv beshalvah. Then
Yaaqov wanted a "stagnant" shalva - no motion, no growth, no challenges,
just status quo, to rest upon his laurels, to tkae an early retirement
so to speak.

So HKBH didn't punish him, so much as CHALLENGE him [qafatz rogzo] to
"rock his boat"

Why did Yaaqov seem to "grow stagnant"?

Apparently Yitzchaq avinu whilst alive was allowed to "retire" because we
see that "Eloqei Yitzchaq" was used by HKBH prior to Yitzchaq's passing.

So I am guessing that after Yaaqov avinu survived both the Lavan and
Esav incidents he too had arrived in peace "vayavo... Shaleim" and felt
ready to step into the background...

But Yaaqov still had more challenges awaiting him and Hashem called him
out of "early reitrement".

Maybe later - when Yaaqov went down to Egypt - then he could "retire"
beshalva

KT
RRW
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