The Gist Of The Jugs

Korach’s mistake was rooted in not properly valuing the position he had. He had the elevated position of a Levi, but he wanted more. He failed to realize that Hashem gives everyone unique circumstances in this world to fulfill his own specialized mission.

The pasuk states in Vayishlach that Yaakov remained alone on one side of a river. Rashi explains that after transporting the rest of his belongings across the river, he went back. He realized that he forgot small jugs and went to retrieve them. The Gemara in Chullin comments on this verse that Yaakov Avinu somewhat endangered himself by going back for those small jugs. He is not criticized for his actions, but the incident begs explanation. There must have been a good reason to go back for those jugs that were seemingly of negligible value.

The Arizal explained that Yaakov Avinu realized that every last item that he owned was given to him for a reason. Hashem had a masterplan for him, and therefore all of his belongings fit into that plan. Armed with this awareness, the small jugs were as valuable to him as gold and diamonds. Perhaps he will be able to fulfill some future mission with these small jugs.

If someone lives with awareness, his whole life takes on a new meaning. He no longer wonders why he was blessed with certain skills but is woefully inadequate in other areas. He appreciates the possessions he has and does not feel lacking that he does not own others. He realizes that his entire life is a masterplan and Hashem has given him exactly what he needs to fulfill his mission in this world.

Upon relating this thought in the beis midrash, a friend commented that he came to the same conclusion but from an entirely different source. He doesn’t own a television, and his wife took the opportunity on vacation to get her fill of some cooking shows. Being a good husband, he feigned interest in what she was watching. It turns out it was a show called Chopped. The contestants are given a bag or box of ingredients to make a predetermined dish. The twist is that some of the ingredients are bizarre. Contestants might be given licorice and peanut butter to spice their chicken dish.

My friend was so inspired. “Look at those contestants! They take their bag of weird ingredients and accept it! They don’t complain, ‘How can I make chicken with peanut butter?’ They accept what they are given and come up with a plan. Gevalt! We have to do the same! Whatever Hashem puts in our bag is what we need for life! If it’s not in the bag, it is not for us. We have to take what Hashem has given us and make a plan with it. Now I know why Hashem wanted me to watch this show!”

The Daas Zekeinim explains that there is a hint in the Torah that Yaakov Avinu went back for small jugs. Granted, the Gemara deduces that he went back over the river and was alone, but how does the Gemara know precisely what he went back for? The Daas Zekeinim says we can deduce it from the word the Torah uses to say “alone”—levado. The middle two letters, beis and dalet, also spell the Hebrew word bod, an olive press. The Torah is hinting that Yaakov Avinu went back for containers of olive oil.

The Sefer Sifsei Kohen says that it was one of Yaakov Avinu’s jugs of oil that the Chashmonaim found after all the other jugs were defiled. It survived over 1,000 years! If this thought is combined with the Arizal above, the lesson is outstanding. Yaakov Avinu knew he needed the jugs. They were part of a mission. He didn’t know what they were for, but he knew that if Hashem had given them to him, they have an important role to fill. Yaakov Avinu made the fortunate decision to go back for those precious jugs.

Sure enough, over 1,000 years later, the jug was finally used for its designated purpose.