* Translated by Janine Muller Sherr
Life doesn’t always turn out the way we had planned; this is especially evident in the current war that has caused so much upheaval.
But being fired from work, family separations, and financial crises can also upend our lives and leave us open to an unknown future.
This happens in this week’s Torah portion. Yaakov is “an innocent man, dwelling in tents” who is suddenly forced to leave his home to flee from his brother Esav who wants to kill him. He escapes to Haran, where he is poor and alone.
But our sages highlight one small detail in this story that changes it completely: Before Yaakov leaves home, his father Yitzchak blesses him and entrusts him with a mission: to carry on the ways of his father and grandfather and to continue to build the Jewish nation. Yitzchak says to Yaakov: Go to Haran and find yourself a wife. Your time has come. Raise a family and lead the way.
Thus, Yaakov is transformed from an escaping refugee into a person tasked with building his own future as well as the future of his people; he is no longer escaping from (a situation) but is working towards a goal.
It would be worthwhile to adopt this attitude ourselves, both on the personal and national level, because when we find a mission for ourselves, our coworkers, or our family members—everything looks different. In every situation, we can try to change our perspective and find our purpose.
