After all, they each played such pivotal roles in our history. But Midrash Tehillim, in its unique way, actually tackles this very idea.
The Midrash focuses on the verse "Yigal Yaakov Yismach Yisrael" – "Yaakov will rejoice and Israel will be glad." Notice anything interesting? It’s Yaakov who rejoices – not Avraham, not Yitzchak. Why is Yaakov singled out as the happiest?
The text actually contrasts "Yigal, son of Yaakov" with the unwritten "Yigal, son of Avraham." It specifically asks: Why is Yaakov happier than all the other patriarchs?
Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish offers a powerful explanation. He says that when Israel sins, Yaakov feels it, even from the Cave of Machpelah, the burial place of our patriarchs and matriarchs. He draws on the prophet Hosea (5:3), which says, "For now, O Ephraim, you have committed harlotry; Israel is defiled." So if Yaakov feels the pain of our failings, doesn’t it stand to reason that he also feels our joy more intensely?
And when joy does come to Israel, Yaakov is happier than the rest because, as the Midrash puts it, he is "prepared for the feast." What does that mean?
The Midrash then quotes Isaiah (48:12): "Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, My called; I am He; I am the first, I also am the last." The key phrase here is "My called" – keru’ai in Hebrew. The Midrash interprets this as "those who are prepared for the feast," referencing 1 Samuel 9:22, which mentions giving people "a place at the head of the called ones." So, Yaakov is always ready, always anticipating the good that is to come.
Rav adds another layer to this idea with a beautiful analogy. He compares it to a father marrying off his daughter. Who is the happiest at the wedding? The father of the bride! He is the one who has nurtured and cared for her, who has invested everything in her well-being. Similarly, Isaiah 29:22 says, "Therefore, thus says the Lord unto the house of Jacob, who redeemed Abraham." So you can say that when redemption comes to Israel, Yaakov is happier than all the other patriarchs.
It all comes back to that original phrase: "Yigal Yaakov Yismach Yisrael" – Yaakov will rejoice and Israel will be glad.
This Midrash isn’t just about ranking the patriarchs in terms of happiness. It's about understanding the deep, enduring connection between Yaakov and the people of Israel. It's about recognizing that our actions have an impact, not just on ourselves, but on those who came before us, those who paved the way for our existence. It suggests that perhaps the greatest joy comes from seeing the fruits of our labor, from witnessing the redemption of a people we love. And maybe, just maybe, it encourages us to strive for actions that will bring joy not only to ourselves but also to the very foundations of our heritage. What do you think?