Parshat Vayechi: The Inner Battle of Light and Darkness
In his penultimate book, Not in G-d’s Name, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z”l presents a profound idea: Judaism abstracts religious battles from the physical realm, interpreting them instead as internal struggles. This perspective sees the religious battle as one between the forces of light and darkness within each individual. It’s a personal, ongoing struggle to overcome our baser instincts and embrace our higher selves.
This week’s Parsha offers a poignant illustration of this concept. As Jacob nears the end of his life, he gathers his children to bestow upon them his final blessings. To Joseph, he grants the city of Shechem, a place won not through mere physical conquest but through spiritual and moral fortitude, as symbolized by his sons Shimon and Levi.
Jacob describes his acquisition of Shechem with the enigmatic phrase “בחרבי ובקשתי” (with my sword and my bow). The Lubavitcher Rebbe delves deep into these words, interpreting them not as literal weapons but as tools of spiritual warfare: prayer and supplication. The sword represents the battles against the immediate, known evils — the character flaws and negative inclinations we are aware of and strive to overcome. The bow, however, symbolizes the long-range, often unseen struggles against the subconscious faults that lurk within us, the hidden enemies of our better nature.
Joseph is singled out for this blessing because of his unique position in Egypt, the superpower of its time. Surrounded by opulence and decadence, Joseph maintained his integrity and righteousness. His spiritual resilience and his prayers were not just for his own sake but were a beacon of moral and ethical light influencing the surrounding society.
Rabbi Sacks, in his work “Not in G-d’s Name,” contrasts this spiritual interpretation of holy war with the literal, physical interpretations that still persist in some religious sects. He laments the tragic consequences when divine commands are misconstrued as calls to physical violence rather than internal transformation.
Today, as Israel stands often in physical battle against those who misinterpret religious texts as mandates for violence, the teachings of the Torah and the wisdom of leaders like Rabbi Sacks remind us of the true battleground. While we must sometimes engage in physical defense, our ultimate goal remains the spread of light, wisdom, and moral strength. We yearn for the day when the world will recognize and embrace the inner battle of light versus darkness, choosing personal and communal transformation over conflict and strife.
We are a nation of poets and professors, innovators, connectors and spiritual leaders. Yet, Israel is once again called to the sword. We are currently fighting this literal interpretation, and we’re fighting with everything. At the same time, we yearn to go back to being a light unto the nation in the spiritual sense.
This Torah is dedicated in the memory of Yaron Chitiz hy’d, who fell in the defense of our homeland.
