To Feed the Whole World2 min read

In this week’s parsha, Yaakov Avinu makes a vow as he flees to Charan. As part of this vow, he says, “V’nasan li lechem l’echol ubeged lilbosh,” “[If] Hashem will give me bread to eat and clothes to wear.”

Many of the tzaddikim ask why Yaakov needed to specify that the food was to eat, and the clothes were to wear. Are the functions of bread and clothing not self-explanatory? Rebbe Yehoshua of Galanta answers with a beautiful idea.

The word “lilbosh” used here by Yaakov is found only once more in Tanach – in Vayikra, where, referring to the Kohen Gadol, the Torah states, “Umilei es yado lilbosh es habegadim” – who has been ordained to wear the vestments. Here, too, the question can be asked: what else does one wear, if not clothes?

The tzaddik explains with the following, powerful idea. The actions performed in the Beis HaMikdash, the place where heaven and earth kissed, had an effect on the entirety of the Jewish nation. The Korbanos and Lechem HaPanim ensured that all Jews everywhere would have bread and meat on their tables. Similarly, the merit brought about by the special clothes of the Kohen Gadol ensured that the Jewish nation would have the proper garments with which to clothe themselves.

Because the tzaddikim are, in the realm of “nefesh” – ego, what the Beis HaMikdash was in the realm of “Olam” – space, their actions have a similar effect, bringing blessing and sustenance to our holy nation.

All the years that Yaakov lived with his father’s household in great holiness, his deeds were on this exalted level, impacting the entire world. However, as he readied to leave to Charan, he was worried that he would lose this ability. Thus, he beseeched Hashem, “V’nasan li lechem”: [Continue to] grant me bread, “l’echol”: in a way that will enable the entire world to eat.

This, then, is the connection between these two words. Just as the mitzvos in the Beis HaMikdash brought blessing upon the entire world, (“lilbosh – es habegadim”) so must we pray that our mitzvos illuminate our nation in much the same way; bringing health, holiness, and spiritual sustenance to our holy nation. (“Ubeged – lilbosh”)