A Response to Mark Twain
In his famous essay "Concerning the Jews," published in 1898, Mark Twain presents his profound wonder about the Jewish people:
"The Jews constitute only 1% of the human race... It suggests a nebulous, dim puff of stardust lost in the blaze of the Milky Way. Properly, the Jew ought hardly to be heard of; but he is heard of, has always been heard of... His contributions to the world's list of great names are way out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers. He has made a marvelous fight in the world, in all the ages; and has done it with his hands tied behind him... The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose... the Greek and the Roman followed, and made a vast noise, and they are gone... The Jew saw them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no dulling of his alert mind. All things are mortal but the Jew... What is the secret of his immortality?"
While this question was posed at the turn of the 20th century, this wonder is even more pronounced after the Jewish people survived the atrocities of the Holocaust, retained their faith in the face of Soviet communism, and rebuilt thriving communities in Israel and across the globe.
After miraculously winning several wars with its neighbors, the tiny land of Israel, with a population of just over 7 million, once again faces an existential threat to its survival from hostile neighbors numbering in the hundreds of millions, threatening to wipe Israel off the map.
What is, in fact, the answer to Mark Twain’s question about the Jewish people’s immortality, and what is the lesson for us today?
The answer to this question can be found in the name of this week’s Torah portion, "Vayechi" (meaning: "And he lived"), referring to our forefather Jacob’s last years of life in Egypt.
Our sages teach us that the Hebrew name of a particular person, animal, object, or idea represents the essence of who or what they represent.
That being said, the name of this week’s Torah portion raises an obvious question: Vayechi means “And he lived.” Nevertheless, the entire Torah reading focuses on the very opposite of life: Jacob’s final sickness, his farewell blessings to his children, and his burial.
By choosing this name, the Torah teaches us a fundamental lesson about life and death. True life is eternal, continuous, and ongoing. There is no way it can pause for a moment. How can a mortal share in eternal life? Through infusing one’s life with meaning and purpose connected to one’s G-d-given life’s mission.
In fact, the word death is not mentioned in relation to the passing of Jacob. As the verse states, “And Jacob concluded commanding his sons, and he drew his legs [up] into the bed, and expired and was brought in to his people (Genesis 49:33).”
The Talmud (Taanit 5b) comments on this anomaly and states: “Rabbi Yoḥanan said as follows: ‘Our patriarch Jacob did not die.’ Rav Naḥman asked him in surprise: ‘And was it for naught that the eulogizers eulogized him and the embalmers embalmed him and the buriers buried him?’ Rabbi Yitzḥak replied to Rav Naḥman… ‘Just as his children are alive, so too, he (Jacob himself) is alive.’”
Jacob was alive because his entire life was dedicated to his Divine mission. He had no individual existence of his own. While this can be said by many of our Sages and holy leaders, Jacob was unique in that despite raising his family in a challenging and immoral environment, all of his children and descendants remained committed to their Jewish beliefs and continued to live in the spirit of Jacob.
In his passing, Jacob showed the eternality of his life, how he had tapped the spark of G‐d within his soul and taught his children how to perpetuate this legacy. By naming this portion Vayechi, the Torah highlights this quality, showing each of us how we can step beyond our mortality and connect with the infinite.
The accurate definition of truth is something that remains intact, relevant, and unchanged in any circumstance or environment. This applies to all areas of life, including love, character, relationships, religion, business ethics, marriage, and values.
The very existence of the Jewish people today, notwithstanding the challenges of persecutions or the tests of affluence and assimilation throughout our long history, is a testament to the truth and eternality of Jacob and the Jewish nation. The fact that the Jewish people today continue to remain connected to G-d, His Torah, and His Mitzvot, is the greatest proof that “Jacob did not die” and “Am Yisroel Chai."
Living a life filled with purpose and meaning based on the teachings of the Torah and performance of Mitzvot, raising one’s children and grandchildren in the Jewish way, and contributing generously to charity is the greatest lasting legacy we can create.
The tremendous challeges of the last few months have struck a deep chord within the hearts and souls of millions of Jews across the globe. The war in Israel has mobilized each of us to make an active effort in protecting our people. Over 350,000 soldiers have enlisted to fight in the IDF while millions of others are donating resources, volunteering, performing Mitzvot and studying Torah in merit of the safety of our people.
It has been both inspiring and humbling to watch young soldiers leaving their families for months on end while putting themselves in physical danger to protect the Jewish people. I often wonder, what gives them the strength and confidence to put their life on the line so selflessly and enthusiastically?
Then I came across this letter from a young hero, Ben Zussman, of blessed memory, who was killed on the front lines in Gaza:
“I am writing this message to you on my way to the base. If you are reading this, something has probably happened to me. As you know me, there’s probably no one happier than me right now… I am grateful for the privilege to defend our beautiful land and the people of Israel.
“Even if something happens to me, I won’t allow you to sink into sadness. I had the privilege to fulfill my dream and my destiny, and you can be sure that I am looking down on you with a big smile.
I'll say it again: I left the house without even being called to the reserves," he said. "I'm full of pride and a sense of mission and I've always said that if I have to die, I hope it will be in defense of others and the country. ‘Jerusalem, I have placed guards’ (Yishayahu 62:6), may the day come when I will be one of them.”
Ben, and so many of our brave brothers and sisters, understand the true definition of what it means to be alive. Let us perpetuate the life of Ben and the thousands of others who sacrificed their lives by doing another Mitzvah in their memory. Let us encourage our friends to light candles before Shabbat, put on Tefillin, study Torah, affix a Mezuzah, and give more charity .
It is our firm belief that very soon we will be reunited with all our brave heroes and loved ones at the time of the resurrection of the dead with the coming of Moshiach.
In describing the world to come (i.e. the Messianic era), the prophets of Israel spoke of a time when all who died will be miraculously restored to life: their bodies will be regenerated, and their souls restored to their bodies. Maimonides includes this belief in the Thirteen principles of Jewish faith: “I believe with complete faith in the resurrection of the dead”.
In the times of Moshiach, absolute truth and goodness will prevail and permeate everything, even the most corporeal and mortal aspects of the world, including the physical body, thereby infusing it with eternal life. As our prophets declared, “Death will be eradicated forever (Isaiah 25:8) ”.
