Maghen Abraham - Thoughts From Mayer Sasson

"And the middle board הבריח התיכון  inside the boards…" (26,28)

Yakov's staff

On the verse "And the middle board הבריח התיכון inside the boards…" the holy Tana Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai writes in the Zohar that this refers to Yakov who was wholesome in his holiness.

This can be explained by the new idea of the Daat Sofrim of the Balei Tosfot that it says in the Medrash that the "middle board" came from the staff מקל of Yakov Avina, which is described "for with my staff I crossed this Jordan (River)" and this staff was brought to Egypt and when they left Egypt, they brought it out with them.

It is also brought down that the staff of Yakov was inherited from one generation to the next and the future G-d will give it to Mashiach.

How did Yakov's staff merit all of this?

When Yakov left Be'er Sheva Elifaz, Eisav's son, ran after him and wanted to kill him, per his father's commandment. Yakov told him, "Take everything I have and you will thereby uphold your father's commandments for a pauper is considered a dead man. Elifaz agreed and took all of Yakov's belongings. Yakov said later in his prayer, "for with my staff I crossed this Jordan" – when I crossed the Jordan River going eastward, I had no silver, no gold, no cattle – only my staff.

Let us imagine Yakov's terrible situation. After 63 years of his learning and serving G-d in his parents' home and in the Yeshiva of Shem and Ever, suddenly Eisav was angry at him for taking away the blessings and Yakov had to run away to the home of his deceitful uncle Lavan in order to find a wife. His parents equipped him with silver, gold and many expensive presents, but Elifaz, the son of Eisav took all his belongings and left him only with his staff, thinking that it was worthless. Yitzchak remained with nothing.

Looking at his situation we can understand that it would have been very easy for him to be totally despaired and crying over his bitter lot. But he did not despair and only strengthened himself in his faith in G-d.  The Tzemach Tzedek wrote that the word staff מקל is the initials for the words "מעולם קוינו לך" – "We will always be hopeful towards You."

This is why on Pesach G-d commanded the Children of Israel when they were leaving Egypt, "So shall you eat, your hips girded….. and your staffs in your hands". Why was it so important for them to eat the Pesach sacrifice with their staffs in their hands?

When Israel left Egypt to the barren wilderness without any equipment or food, they were not to fall into despair, they were to strengthen themselves in their belief in G-d just as Yakov did with his staff מקל- because "מעולם קוינו לך" - "We will always be hopeful towards You." They were to hope and believe that G-d would provide them generously with food in the wilderness.

That is why Yakov said "I am small versus all the kindness….for with my staff I crossed this Jordan". It is true that Elifaz took away all the silver and gold that I had and I was left with nothing besides my staff - מקל- but that is my faith and belief in G-d - "מעולם קוינו לך"- We will always be hopeful towards You.

SHABBAT SHALOM!!