A Tapestry of Time: Unraveling the Essence of Life Through Yaakov's Philosophy of Purposeful Existence

Show Notes
Transcript

Embark on a philosophical exploration of time and existence with our esteemed guest, Parshash Vayigash, who recounts an ancient conversation that still reverberates today. Imagine the scene: Pharoah meets Yosef's father, Yaakov, and innocuously asks him about his age. The wisdom that unfolds from Yaakov's response is a masterclass in living with intention, as he speaks of life not as days merely passed but as a journey of sojourns and soulful introspection.

As we weave through the narrative inspired by Rav Samson Rafael's profound insights, we confront the quintessential challenge of distinguishing mere existence from a life well-lived. Yaakov's perspective invites us to measure our time not by the ticking clock but by our achievements and strides toward personal growth. Each day presents itself not as a mundane sequence but as a fresh chance to define our purpose and carve out a meaningful existence. This episode promises to touch your heart and spark your mind as we contemplate, alongside Yaakov's teachings, how to craft our own lives with purpose and vigor.

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Transcript

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It is truly one of the most epic meet and greets, a discussion heard around the world.

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And it all began with one really awkward icebreaker.

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Partridge Vyegash told us the time that Paro was introduced to Josef's father, jakov.

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Paro sees the great sage and says to him how old are you?

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Kind of picture an old man with a white beard.

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Obviously something mystical and deep, profound was happening.

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But it all began with how old are you?

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A rather simple question, but the answer really makes things even a bit more mystifying, dumbfounding and perplexing, says Jakov, the days of the years of my sojourns have been 130 years.

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Few and bad have been the days of my life and they have not reached the lifespan of my forefathers in the days of their sojourns.

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And then it all ended with a brecha and some well wishes.

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The answer seems a bit elongated.

00:01:22.987 --> 00:01:28.667
Why wasn't it just a simple answer?

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That could have sufficed to answer Paro's question.

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One third.

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But here says the great Rep Samson Raffio from Herschian philosophy.

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In fact we are clued in.

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It's an entirely different way that the righteous view, time and the not so simple question of how old are you?

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Number one points out, rehvars, that there is a fundamental difference between living and existing Life is defined not by breath in your lungs or beating heart, but by progress, but by growth and accomplishment.

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And Jakov is saying there is a difference between existing and living.

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And I have not lived as long as my forefathers, my parents.

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They had more peace, they were able to accomplish more.

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And while Jakov wholeheartedly accepted all of the constant tribulations in Nisionos he would go through, he was still saying humbly that life is quantified by progress and I haven't reached the same level of my parents.

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And further, peeling apart surgically Jakov's words, jakov calls his years by the days of his years of his life.

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To the righteous isn't just one long stint of time 365 days, 12 months, it's just a year.

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But each day another slice of the pie with a different objective, with Limnus Yomeniuk Cainhoyta, that a Jewish person counts the days.

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He makes each day count and has a separate objective in his avaitis Hashem on that day, sometimes you'll hear the whole week was a blur.

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I don't even know what I did this past week.

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I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but for the righteous, they wake up with a certain goal in mind, within an objective.

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So maybe we should ask ourselves, following in the footsteps of Jakov Avino, are we merely existing or are we living?

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And living takes making a choice In the heart of a Chaim.

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You need to choose to be alive.

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And secondly, why don't we begin our days Well early?

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Yes, but after you've set up an objective, a list of what you would like to accomplish that day, so that way you will really make the days in your years count.

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For this is the way that Jakov Avino quantifies time and responds to the simple question of how old are you?

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