The Tzaddik's Fall: A Step to a Higher Level

16aOr we may read “And Yaakov settled in the land of his father's sojournings …” as the story of a tzaddik who rises through his falls. We begin with the verse “I have set Hashem before me always …”¹ Sometimes a slight wavering comes over the tzaddik, and he falls from his level. This too is for his good. Through it he strengthens himself and spurs himself on all the more in the service of Hashem, blessed be He. It also brings him to humility, makes him lowly in his own eyes and keeps him from pride. And all his earlier deeds remain acceptable before Him.

16bThis is the meaning of “I have set Hashem lenegdi, before me …” As is well known, the word mitzvah (מצוה) holds the Name Havayah (הוי"ה), blessed be He.² Lenegdi means “before me,” but here it is read as hisnagdus, what stands against me. Even what opposes me, my falling from my level, is also the Name Havayah, and so this too counts as a mitzvah, since it spurs me on and humbles me. In “for He is at my right hand, I shall not falter,” mimini is taken here as “from my right side”: through this I will not slip from my own right side, for I am bound to become more zealous, more humble and lowly. This is also the meaning of “Hashem is uzi, my strength, and my shield.”³ Here uzi is the strong thing, the oz, that stands against His service, and “my shield” is the mitzvos, which shield. As we said, both are the Name Havayah, which brings me to keep His mitzvos with more zeal. This is the meaning of “for in Him my heart trusts.” Notice the word bo, “in Him”: through all this I cleave to Him all the more eagerly.

17This is “And Yaakov settled in the land of his father's sojournings.” Megurei means “sojournings,” but here it is read as fear:⁴ Yaakov lived in awe of Hashem's greatness, the fear of Hashem; “his father” is our Father in Heaven. And “in the land of Canaan”: Kenaan (כנען) speaks of hachna'ah (הכנעה), humility, for he lived in humility. “These are the generations of Yaakov: Yosef …”⁵ These generations, his offspring, are good deeds:⁶ the great fear and the great humility. And even if at times he fell from his great level to a small one, the verse hints at that with “Yaakov,” for it is a small level,⁷ and at what follows with “Yosef,” which means “he will add”: the fall causes another level to be added to him, greater than the first. For, as we said, he strengthens himself and grows mightier in the service of Hashem, blessed and exalted be He, with more zeal and more humility. This is easy to understand.