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Orchard of Delights 6 Vayigash
land of Egypt, whose Hebrew root means a narrow place, a place of sorts of desires and passions, some of which are not the most positive.
confinement and limits. For a pristine, Godly soul, dwelling within In general, though, the yearning contributes to positive progress and
a physical body can at times be the most anguishing and limiting growth as verified by the incredible success Jews have enjoyed in
experience. scores of countries throughout the long exile. Jacob and his family’s
success in Goshen, where they prospered and multiplied beyond all
Yet Jacob, like the soul in the physical body, “lives” in Egypt,
and in so doing teaches us a crucial lesson. He learns to navigate the expectations, is the archetypal example that paved the way for the
narrow straits of existential reality. And his descendants enslaved in Jewish people’s ability to survive and prosper in the Diaspora.
Egypt further teach this message and simultaneously symbolize the The Ba’al Shem Tov taught that when the Jews return to Israel
manner in which the spiritual soul is enslaved within the physical again, the secret of the final redemption would depend on their
body, pulled endlessly after the temptations and the desires of the maintaining the same degree of longing for the Land that they had
animal soul that clings to the body. Ultimately though the children when in exile. A failure to continue to yearn for the Land could,
of Israel are redeemed and taken out of Egypt in order to receive God forbid, lead to future exiles, as nothing elicits the complacency
the Torah and serve God. This too represents the soul’s promised and lack of commitment that could lead to losing the Land more
redemption from its own private slavery. than a loss of passion. Once we take the Promised Land for granted

Freedom in Judaism is defined by the ability of the soul to and it loses its “magic” appeal, the threat of future exiles is not far
rule over the body, the capacity of the mind to channel the behind.
emotions of the heart. Not that the body and the heart are to be This idea is connected to a profound concept taught by Rabbi
denigrated or ignored, rather they must be trained and channeled Shlomo Carlebach who explained that when people have cravings for
in the proper direction. Paradoxically, outsiders might feel that something physical and they fulfill these desires, then they will feel
observing the Torah’s precepts is the epitome of slavery because the fulfilled, at least temporarily. However, when people desire holiness
individual must bend his or her will to follow an organized body of the more they experience it, the more they will want, the more the
commandments that effect virtually every area of life. Yet insiders longing will grow for a true connection to Godliness. This was precisely
quickly realize that by following the Torah, people free themselves the Ba’al Shem Tov’s message about the Land of Israel. The more
from the tyrannical grasps of their lower instincts and baser desires, the Land reveals its inherent holiness, the more Jews should long to
thus allowing themselves to develop their true essence and potential. experience it. The more the Jews’ passion grows, the nearer we will
From a Torah perspective, no amount of talent, power, and wealth come to redemption. This is the secret of the redemption whose seeds
can free a person, if he or she is still driven by baser desires. Torah were planted long ago in a place called Goshen.
is the instruction manual or road map leading us from slavery to
ultimate freedom.

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