Yaakov Avinu, in an attempt to appease his brother Eisav, prepares for their encounter with an impressive gift. Upon meeting each other, Eisav tells Yaakov to take back all that he had sent because, “Yaish lee rav – I have plenty.” Yaakov answers, “Please accept my gift, for Hashem has shown me grace - vechi yaish lee kol – and I own everything.”
Rav Wolbe explains (Alei Shur vol. II pg. 327) that Eisav, whose entire life revolved around pleasures and materialistic acquisitions, only allowed himself to say that he owns plenty. Though he might continuously acquire more and more, such a person will never agree that he has everything because there are always additional things that can be acquired. Our sages tell us.
“He who has one hundred wants two hundred and he who has two hundred wants four hundred” and as a result, “A person does not leave this world with even half of what he desires.”
On the other hand, Yaakov Avinu, whose life was rooted in spirituality, was not only completely content with what he owned; he had no interest in acquiring more possessions. Hence, he was able to declare, “I have everything.” Yaakov realized that being content with what one has is not a post facto sigh of, “I will have to make due with what I have.” Rather, it is an initial frame of mind that, “I have one hundred and I am perfectly fine without two hundred.” One who is constantly obsessed with buying the latest fashions and home furnishings will never succeed in feeling that he has all that he desires. While someone who is happy with his lot has acquired the trait of Yaakov and the benefits that come along with it.
What are the fringe benefits of being content with what one has? Chazal tell us (Bava Basra 16b), “Three people were given a taste of the next world while still in this world: Avraham, Yitzchok, and Yaakov…Yaakov as it is written, Vechi yaish lee kol. Three people were not ruled by their yetzer
hora: Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov as it is written [about each of them respectively] bakol, mekol, kol (Vechi yaish lee kol).”
Rav Wolbe explains that the yetzer hora is the driving force behind the craving to acquire more possessions and bigger and better pleasures. Someone who works on being content with what he has and begins cultivating feelings of “Yaish lee kol”, has to some extent put his yetzer hora in check.
Additionally, a lifestyle centered around materialistic acquisitions is one that expresses itself as a quest for quantity. In contrast, someone who is satisfied with what he has leads a lifestyle in pursuit of quality. Through that which he focused on the quality of what Hashem bestowed upon him, Yaakov Avinu was able to savor a spiritual otherworldly taste in his materialistic acquisitions and pleasures.
How can we introduce such lofty feelings into our daily lives? The first step is to make a point of concentrating on the beracha of “she’asa lee kol
tzorki- He has provided me with all my needs.” If we truly believe what we are stating, then we will begin appreciating that which we do have, thereby setting us on course to reach the levels that were attained by Yaakov Avinu.
This dvar Torah was compiled by the family of the Mashgiach l’iluy nishmas the Mashgiach Harav Shlomo ben R’ Moshe z”l.
Important Numbers
