Yaakov Halach l’Darcho
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
It is well known that we declare “Yaakov Halach l’Darcho” in Lubavitch at the end of the Tishrei Yomim Tovim. Tishrei was full of Yomim Tovim and now we are back to our routines. Yaakov represents the part of us that deals with the world. Yaakov’s name means to hold onto and control the heel of Eisav. Eisav represents the world. We go about our way to make this world a dwelling place for Hashem, knowing Hashem in all our ways and doing everything l’shem Shomayim.
As the distance from Tishrei grows with every passing day and we traverse the vast expanse of winter through Cheshvan until Pesach we ask ourselves how can we fulfill our mission without faltering? We don’t feel the awe of Rosh Hashana or the dancing of Simchas Torah. How can we remember and how can we keep going?
The answer is that we need to constantly long and aspire for the month of Tishrei. We could have had, and we did have a great Tishrei. As high as it was it’s not complete until we connect it to our daily living. If we don’t then its like something that has been stored away in the attic, something we reminisce over. We need to live connected to the Tishrei experience throughout the year.
When we feel challenged throughout the year to do mitzvos, we concentrate on the moment that we stood before Hashem by tekiyos; how we felt that “You are my King and I am your servant”, always, 385 days a year 24 hours a day. The inspiration will help us overcome any complacent thought. If we falter we go back to the most powerful moments of Yom Kippur, to Neila, Achas b’Shana, the saying of the Shema and Hashem Hu HaElokim; it will inspire us to change.
If our mood drops and we have sad thoughts we shift our thoughts to the simcha shel mitzvah of Sukkos and the simcha of the Torah on Simchas Torah. This will lift our spirits. If we ever feel lonely we recall the unity of the entire Tishrei from parshas Nitzavim and Rosh Hashana though all the Yomim Tovim until Simchas Torah and the fabrengen on Shabbos Breishis; how we were together as one with Hashem.
This is all connected to parshas Noach. Was Noach just one person all-alone against the entire world? No! He was constantly with Hashem; “Es HaElokim hishalach Noach- Noach went with Hashem”. You can be at odds with the entire world; nevertheless you walk together with Hashem straight toward the Geula Ha’amitis v’haShleima!
A Good Shabbos