At joyous occasions we wish each other l’chayim - to life! To health and to wealth!
Are these just words that we utter or is there a deeper meaning to these good wishes?
Let’s analyze Jacob’s life, covered in this week’s Torah portion, Vayishlach, which will help shed some light on this theme.
Health: After all the trials, obstacles, and physical battles that Jacob had to deal with between his Uncle Lavan and his brother, Esau, he has healed from his illness. This taught him a valuable lesson in life that although there are times when we may be ill, those times, too, can be part of the growth process.
Wealth: From the story it seems that Jacob felt obliged to give gifts to his brother. However, Jacob understood that in the big picture of life, gift giving was not an obligation. If he was meant to give money to his brother, then it had to be part of G-d’s plan. If that were the case, then why should he be upset? It was never intended to be his in the first place. The process of forced giving was nothing more than a wake-up call, just as the injury was a reminder to feel healthy and grow from the pain.
Faith: The reference to “To Life!” is to one’s spiritual life, to a strong faith in G-d. Jacob was a “holy person;” after all, we refer to him as one of the three fathers of the Jewish people. Yet he was not a person who sat in synagogue the whole day and prayed and studied Torah. He worked hard for a living – he even became very wealthy. He was engaged in the “real world.” This is because Jacob understood that to have strong faith in G-d is accomplished specifically by engaging in the world, not by secluding yourself from the world. He took the teachings of the Torah and incorporated them into his engagement in his worldly affairs, so the Torah and the world became one.
We, too, can learn from Jacob in our dealings with the world around us. We should view our challenges as opportunities for growth, and utilize every opportunity to infuse the world with holiness.
L’chayim to spiritual life, to good health, and to an abundance of wealth!
Shabbat Shalom.