23 Dec PARSHA IN PRACTICE: SKILLS FOR BETTER LIVING VAYIGASH – BUILDING RESILIENCE

Does the Torah
know how to count?
It might not seem so,
as Parshas Vayigash
lists the 69 people in Yaakov’s family who
came down to Egypt and then refers
to them as “the 70 people” ( Bereishis
46:27 ). Rashi ( v. 15 ) explains that
the 70th person in Yaakov’s family was
Levi’s daughter Yocheved, future mother
of Moshe Rabbeinu. She is not listed by
name among the other 69 travelers, as she
was not yet born when Yaakov began the
journey down south(west). It was only as
they passed through the gates of Egypt
that Yocheved was born, bringing the
grand total to 70 people.
My rebbe, Rav Zvi Sobolofsky shlita
pointed out that this short comment of
Rashi has great significance (in addition
to helping the Torah tally properly). As
B’nei Yisroel were crossing the border
into Egypt to begin a galus (exile) that
would last hundreds of years, Hashem was
already planting the seeds of redemption.
Immediately before stepping foot into the

nation that would later enslave and torture
them, Yaakov’s family was already blessed
with the birth of Yocheved, whose son
would perform miracles and lead them
back to Eretz Yisroel!
Rabbi Baruch HaLevi Epstein (author of
Torah Temimah , d. 1941) has a similar
comment in his sefer Tosefes Beracha
. In Vayeishev , the Torah interrupts
the narrative of Yosef with the story of
Yehudah and Tamar. Wedged between
the sale of Yosef ( ch. 37 ) and his arrival
in Egypt ( ch. 39 ), the Torah interjects
an entire perek ( ch. 38 ) discussing the
marriages and children of Yehudah. What
about Yehudah’s episode is so urgent that
it preempts the ongoing story of Yosef?
Rabbi Epstein explained that immediately
before describing Yosef ’s descent to Egypt
– the beginning of the first galus in
Jewish history – the Torah interjects with
the ultimate solution to all Jewish exiles.
The incident of Yehudah concludes with
the birth of his son Peretz, the ancestor
of Dovid HaMelech, and later, Mashiach
ben Dovid. Before delving into the details

of slavery, oppression, and anti-
Semitism – the first round of many

– the Torah pauses to describe the
lineage of Mashiach . In effect,
Hashem is saying: before you read
about Jewish suffering, you need to
know that I already have laid the
groundwork for Jewish redemption.
Chazal refer to this concept as
Refuah Lifnei HaMakah – Hashem
does not strike the Jewish people
until He first prepares the ultimate
cure ( Megillah 13b ). To provide
us with encouragement and reassurance,
Hashem ensures that the solution is
in place before even introducing the
problem. Even when times seem rough,
we can take solace in the knowledge that
Hashem has a plan for us, and already has
the salvation ready to go!
This idea has a striking psychological
parallel. Life often brings challenges that
feel overwhelming or sudden – storms
that test our emotional strength. But, like
Hashem planting the seeds of redemption
before galus, we can consciously “bank”

emotional resources in advance. By
cultivating supportive relationships,
positive habits, skills, and coping strategies
during calmer times, we create a reservoir
of resilience to draw upon when difficulties
arrive. Just as Yocheved’s birth ensured
that redemption was already in motion,
our proactive preparation strengthens
us to weather the storms of life with
steadiness and hope. The key is foresight:
knowing that even before challenges
appear, we can build a foundation that will
sustain us, allowing us not just to endure,
but to emerge stronger on the other side.