Welcome to the short, practical Lelamed Weekly Dvar and Daily Aliyah. As always, you can Order The Daily Aliyah and receive your hard copy of these daily practical and relevant Torah thoughts (all proceeds go to Daily Giving), or join this Whatsapp group to receive one per day. I hope you find this meaningful...

After Yosef reveals himself to his brothers, the brothers travel back to Yaakov to relay the good news. After momentary disbelief, Yaakov’s spirits are lifted (45:27), and the next pasuk relates that Yisrael immediately informs everyone that he will go see Yosef before he dies (45:28). Why does the Torah call him Yaakov in one pasuk and Yisrael in the next? Furthermore, in pesukim 46:2, 46:5, and 46:8, the names Yisrael and Yaakov are both used. Which is it, and why the variance?

Rabbi Shimon Klein suggests that the name Yaakov reflects a human perspective dealing with natural and grounded interactions. At the same time, Yisrael expresses a higher destiny, meaning, and perspective, a name declared by God Himself. Once Yaakov comes to realize that Yosef is alive, he understands that a higher purpose has now been set in motion and that a nation is being formed—“B’nei Yisrael.” God then addresses Yaakov’s mortal fears of leaving a land he was told not to leave, reassuring him that a great nation will emerge (46:3). The newly minted nation then carries Yaakov to Egypt for the next stage of their journey (46:5).

The whole is always bigger than its parts, and a group functions better than its individuals. Our parashah takes it a step further: A higher purpose transforms us when we’re together and transforms us as individuals. God told Yaakov that he, as Yaakov, should not be afraid of the challenges that lie ahead (46:3). We, too, ought not to be afraid of life’s challenges, for a higher purpose unites us as a people; all the while empowering us as individuals.

Shlomo Ressler

Quotation of the week:
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."