Page 661 - BERESHIT

Yaakov Avinu did not die, in the accepted sense of the word. The Torah
does not record his death as it does by others. He simply passed from this
world to the next, exchanging his temporal ‘life’ with the life of the next
world.

Why do we cry at the demise of a tzaddik? He surely is in a much better
place. For some, we cry to help their soul be elevated. Our tears and
prayers speak up on their behalf in the Heavenly Court.

The Torah describes the lives of the Avot in sefer Bereishit in order to
teach us good middot. Avraham Avinu was the paradigm of chessed,
Yitzchak exemplified mesirut nefesh, and Yaakov personified the pillar of
Torah.

This is why we begin our Shemoneh Esrei by mentioning their names. It
is the greatest praise to the Al-mighty. By saying the names of our
illustrious forefathers, we are reminded of their exemplary middot, and at
the same time, we plead before the Heavenly Throne and ask to be
remembered in their merit.

Sefer Bereishit precedes Shemot as the refinement of middot naturally
precedes learning Torah and is the key to redemption.

We cry over the death of tzaddikim because of our own loss. Who will be
our Heavenly advocate? Who will pray for us and worry over our needs?
Tzaddikim find rest on High while we find ourselves entangled in worldly
trivialities and caught up in materialistic pursuits. We felt this way