Our ancestors certainly did. This week, we're diving into Bereshit Rabbah 91, a section of the great Midrashic collection that unpacks the Book of Genesis. Specifically, we'll be looking at the moment when Jacob, now known as Israel, sends his sons back to Egypt. Famine grips the land, and they must return to Joseph, the very brother they sold into slavery years before, to buy more grain.
The stakes are high. Jacob knows this trip is fraught with danger. The text opens with the line, "Since, had we not tarried, we would now have returned twice" (Genesis 43:10). Then Israel says to them, "If so then, do this: Take of the choice produce of the land in your vessels, and take a gift down to the man, a little balm, and a little honey, spices and ladanum, pistachio nuts and almonds" (Genesis 43:11).
But here's where it gets interesting. The Rabbis, in their infinite wisdom, saw layers of meaning we might miss. Rabbi Levi, in the name of Rabbi Tanhum ben Hanilai, asks a powerful question: Can it be that the same trembling that I caused my father to tremble is causing my trembling here? He's referencing the moment when Isaac, his father, was deceived by Jacob into giving him the blessing meant for Esau. Remember that scene? "Who then [efo] is he [who hunted game and brought it to me? And I ate from all before you came, and I blessed him]" (Genesis 27:33). The Hebrew word efo, meaning "where" or "who then," connects the two moments. Jacob realizes his past actions are now mirroring back at him, causing him the very anxiety he once inflicted on his own father. Ouch.
This is classic Midrash – using the text to draw parallels and teach profound lessons about cause and effect, about generational trauma and the cyclical nature of life.
The passage continues with Jacob instructing his sons to take "of the choice produce [mizimrat] of the land in your vessels." Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin, quoting Rabbi Levi, offers a beautiful interpretation: these are "items that bring song [mizmarin] to the world." He then lists them: snail [ḥilazon] – the source of the precious tekhelet dye; wine with balsam; myrrh with its oil. These aren't just trade goods; they're things of beauty and value, capable of inspiring joy and wonder.
The list goes on: "A little balm" – balsam oil, "a little honey" – Rabbi Yehuda bar Rabbi said: Honey that is hard as a rock – a special, valuable honey. "Spices" – beeswax; "ladanum" – gum Arabic; "pistachio nuts and almonds" – nut oil and almond oil.
And then, a dose of practicality: "And take double the silver in your hand, and the silver that was returned in the opening of your sacks return in your hand; perhaps it was an oversight" (Genesis 43:12). Honesty and prudence, always important. "And take your brother, and arise and return to the man" (Genesis 43:13). Benjamin must go, a painful sacrifice for Jacob.
Finally, a prayer: "And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and he will send with you your other brother, and Benjamin; and me, as I am bereaved, I am bereaved" (Genesis 43:14).
Rabbi Yitzchak adds a layer of understanding: "And take double the silver in your hand" – perhaps the price has risen. He's thinking practically. But Jacob is also covering all bases. He says, "Here is the silver, here is the gift, and here is your brother, do you need anything else?" And his sons, in their desperation, answer, "We need your prayer."
This reveals a crucial point. Worldly goods and careful planning are important, but ultimately, they're not enough. "If you need my prayer," Jacob responds, "and may God Almighty grant you mercy…". He understands the limits of human agency. He knows that ultimately, they are dependent on divine grace.
What does this all mean for us today? This passage, born from the depths of Bereshit Rabbah, reminds us of the interconnectedness of our lives. Our actions have consequences, sometimes echoing through generations. It calls us to acknowledge our past, to learn from our mistakes, and to strive to break cycles of pain. And, perhaps most importantly, it reminds us to temper our striving with humility and to recognize the power of prayer, the need for divine mercy in a world filled with uncertainty. It's a potent reminder that even in the face of hardship, hope – and the possibility of redemption – remains.