Parshat Vayeitzei: Full Dedication to Torah Study

Before Yaakov traveled to Padam-Aram, he first stopped to learn Torah in the Yeshivah of Shem V’Ever for fourteen years. In this week’s parsha, as he continues his journey after those 14 years, the Torah says, וישכב במקום ההוא, “And he lay down in that place.” The Medrash teaches that for fourteen years while learning in yeshivah, Yaakov did not sleep at all; he remained totally immersed in his learning. Only now, after completing those fourteen years does he choose to sleep.

One question that often concerned me is, if this is in fact what occurred, why doesn’t the Torah itself state it? These fourteen years are not mentioned directly in the Torah at all? In fact, Rashi in the last pasuk of last week’s parsha (28:9) quotes Chazal, who try to calculate the years of Yaakov’s life and are missing fourteen years. They then conclude these must have been years spent in Yeshivat Shem V’Ever. Again, why struggle to find it in this kind of backwards way? Why doesn’t the Torah say it directly?

Rav Mordechai Gifter zt”l suggests that the Torah is teaching us a most important lesson about Torah study. The Torah purposely “hides” the fourteen years that Yaakov “hid” to totally immerse himself in Torah study. There is a point in one’s life when we all need to totally immerse ourselves in Torah study for some period of time - albeit for most people that is not fourteen years - allowing one to be totally immersed in the sanctity of Torah, hidden from all other matters. Moreover, only now as Yaakov lies down, he does so to receive prophecy. Clearly, spending fourteen years totally immersed in Torah study was Yaakov’s priority; even to the extent that it kept him from prophecy. That tells us just how important Torah study must be.

I would consider two points of conclusion from this lesson:

1. It is vital and ideal to have the opportunity in life to totally immerse oneself in Torah study. This is one of the theories behind the gap year of study in Israel, between high school and university. Some people wonder why there is a need for this year of study. After all, the child has spent 17 years in Jewish Day School, right? The answer is this: there is no match for a year of total immersion in Torah study. For most individuals who have had this experience, there is no doubt the experience impacted their lifelong level of commitment to Torah study and observance.
   
2. Beyond the gap year of study, this lesson of Yaakov applies to ALL of us. There is a mitzvah to learn some Torah every day, and it is incumbent upon all of us to find time in our day to devote time to Torah study. But Yaakov is teaching us that taking time to learn is not enough; we need to be totally immersed during that time in the Torah itself, and in nothing else. Let us learn and not check our email or text messages during the shiur we attend or allow for any other distractions. When we are in the world of Torah, let us be like Yaakov and be in it fully.