Pursuit of Wisdom – Parshas Vayechi 5769
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…וידגו לרוב בקרב הארץ (מח:טז).
“…and may they multiply increasingly (like fish) upon the earth” (48:16).
Yaakov blessed the sons of Yosef by saying that they should be fruitful like fish. The simple reason why he chose to bless them utilizing this parable is because fish are very productive and are hidden in the sea, safe from the evil eye.
The Midrash Rabbah (97:5) adds another aspect regarding the special characteristics of fish. Fish grow up and live their entire lives in water, but as soon as even a single drop of rain falls from heaven, they go up to drink the fresh water with a thirst as if they have never seen water before in their lives! So too the Jews grow up in water, which is Torah, and when they hear a new explanation or depth, they listen with a thirst as if they never heard a Dvar Torah before in their lives!
The thirst and love for wisdom, says the Sefer Imrei Pi, is a sign that one possesses true wisdom, for he appreciates its’ value. The Mivchar HaPenimim writes, that as long as one is in search of wisdom, he is intelligent, but as soon as he thinks he has found it all, he is a fool!
The Sefer HaChaim says, that our wise men are titled Talmidey Chachamim, students of Wisdom, for the same reason. They do not view themselves as complete in their search for wisdom. Rather they are always striving to be a Talmid, a student, to learn more wisdom.
Talmidey Chachamim are always eager to learn, there is no time that they stop their quest. The Gemara (Berachos 62a) tells us that when Rebbe Gamliel was shopping to purchase food for his son’s wedding, this did not stop Rebbe Akiva from following him to present his questions in learning for Rebbe Gamliel to answer.
R’ Chaim Shmuelevitz recounted how he visited his uncle Rabbi Avraham Yafen in the Yeshiva of Navardok. He asked his uncle to show him the best student present. Rabbi Yafen pointed to one and said, “his depth of perception is the best”. About another he said, “he is the most diligent learner in the Yeshiva”. Then he pointed to a young student sitting in the corner and said, “he is the best”. When questioned as to what quality this young man possessed over and above the others, R’ Yafen replied, “He, is the Mevakesh of the Yeshiva – he sincerely wants to grow!”
That great student was none other than R’ Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky, the Steipler Goan (1899-1985), whose Torah lit up the world!
The trait that makes a person, and is above and beyond all great qualities, is his true thirst for Torah knowledge. This is the blessing of the fish.
Categories: Parshas Vayechi Wisdom
