The Gift of Life

The subject of death, is a major theme of Parshat Vayechi. The Torah describes the last years of Yakov Avinu’s life and his blessings to his sons before he left the world.

Our commentators tell us that Yakov Avinu was the first person to actually experience sickness before he expired. Before him, people passed away with little warning. Some thought a sneeze would be followed by death. This is why we say things like, “G-d bless you,” when somebody sneezes.

In Yosef’s case, he was told to visit his father because he was suffering from sickness. This prompted him to bring his two sons, Efraim and Menashe for a blessing.

Rav Avigdor Miller wrote that the aging process was meant to prepare family members of the impending departure from this world of their loved ones. This is what makes the sudden or untimely death of a young person all the more tragic.

The Mussar books emphasize that there needs to be a daily awareness that we will not live forever. It helps give us a perspective on things. It reminds us of what really matters in this world.

It also makes us appreciate the gift of life, and should motivate us to make every moment count. The Rabbis interpret the Pasuk, מפני שיבה תקום, that we are to rise for an elderly person, to mean, לפני שיבה תקום, paraphrased to mean that before old age takes hold of us, we should wake up, and do as many Mitzvot as possible.

The reality is that we will all die. We must take this reality to love life and live our lives in the most giving and productive manner.