by Raizy Rubin
Jacob passes away in this week’s Torah portion at age 147, which is 33 years shy of his father’s 180 years. biblical commentaries explains why he died 33 years shy of his father (though 147 isn’t a bad age) that are good lessons for us to learn as well.
A) When Lavan meets up to an escaping Jacob, he accuses him of stealing his idols. Jacob adamantly defends himself, and says that anyone who stole Lavan’s idols “should not live.” It turns out that his beloved wife Rachel, daughter of Lavan, is the one who stole the idols and hid them in the seat of her camel. Indeed, Rachel passes away in childbirth, on that journey home. The Hebrew word “Yichyeh” shall (not) live has the numerical value of 33. This teaches us to be ultra careful with our words and not speak harshly or brazenly like that.
B) When Jacob meets Pharaoh and is asked “how are you?” Jacob complains about his life, and describes his sufferings, using 33 words. The lesson? Let’s be appreciative of life’s blessings, accentuate the positive and not complain too much. Physiologically, too, those with a negative life outlook often have a shorter life expectancy.
Here’s a personal family story on this point.
Mendel’s grandmother once wrote a letter to the Rebbe, probably in the late 50’s or early 1960’s. In the first paragraph she wrote glowingly of how well her sonwas doing in school and how proud she was of his accomplishments. The subsequent paragraphs of the letter were all concerns, complaints and worries that she had about a whole bunch of different things, and how much these worries and concerns were deeply troubling to her. The Rebbe wrote back, and sent back her letter in reply. He told her to cut off the top paragraph and put it on her night-table and each morning and each evening she should take a look at it, and focus on the blessings in her life.