Parshat Bereishit II In memory of Shimshon Ben Shalom

Starting with this verse, we are doing to look into a teaching of the sages of blessed memory -

The opening question is dealing with the fact that the word Vayehi implies grief, and this same word is used to describe the first day - 'Vayehi Erev Vayehi Boker, Yom Echad'. We can understand why Vayehi would be used to describe night, as night connotes poverty, and so its fitting to have a word of grief attached to it. But in regards to the morning (Vayehi Boker), which connotes benevolence and wealth, how could it have a word describing grief attached to it?

However, the truth over here will show us the proper path. That the Holy Torah is warning us that morning, which implies success and wealth, can also cause much agony and suffering for mankind if one isn't living a life of truth and Torah. As is says -

This above verse is speaking about someone who causes to himself suffering of the body and soul, may the Merciful protect us.

As well, King Solomon the wisest of all man has said -

And this is what our verse is saying - Vayehi Erev Vayehi Boker - The Torah is specifically placing this word of grief Vayehi next to both morning and night to teach us that even wealth and greatness can cause a man anguish if one doesn't live by the Torah, which is not the case if a man will go in the path of the Torah and aware of the Creator - a man who does that, will have his days filled with joy and genuine pleasures.

As it states in the Book of Proverbs -

Which in essence means that if you live with HaShem, then you will have the Blessing of HaShem upon you.

Alternatively we can bring in another answer as to why Vayeihi (a negative word) is used together with morning (a positive word) based on what I had heard from the my father, who was my master, and my Rebbe and pure and righteous, may his memory of righteousness be blessed and may his merits descend upon us.

Based on the below verse -

Behold, the proper advice to avoid misuse of time, and getting caught in the trap of depression when something bad happens in your life, G-D forbid is the following. You should always think about being in the present, and just saying to yourself, this is only one day, and all bad things have their end, and soon everything will be flipped around to become good. And similarly, someone who's is prospering and doing well, and you are in a fortunate time of your life, the advice to not get inflated with ego in your good status and G-D forbid suggest that you with your own strength and work of your hand was the sole reason for this success. You should remember that you are not protected forever, and everything fluctuates with time, and if you always remember this strategy, then you can be certain in your heart that you will never come to worry aduring your lows and suffering, nor be inflated with ego during your highs and success.

Now let us analyze the above verse - "See, this day I set before you blessing and curse:"

This verse is teaching us this principal - as we see it is saying whether you are in impoverished times, which is the curse mentioned in this verse, or if you are in times of success and wealth, which is the blessing mentioned in this verse, THEN you must know that both of these realities is just what you are experiencing TODAY (based on the Hebrew word on that verse HaYom).. As if to say that this is just one day for you, and if you think like this, living in the present and staying humble and grateful, you will be wealthy (in joy and peace) all the days of your life, and you will overcome both the challenges the poor man faces and that of the rich man.

And this is what our Holy Torah means when it says - 'And it was morning and it was night, day one.' 'Vayehi Erev' - which is in your times of poverty, and 'Vayehi Boker' which is in your times of success when the sun of bounty is shining on you, they (it doesn't say the first day like the other days, it just says one day). We must know that whether we are experience either of those realities, it is just one day. This is why the Torah doesn't say the first day, like it does will all the other days that follow when we see the words second day, third day, fourth day, ect - Yom Sheni, Yom Shlishi, ect.. (The first day should say Yom Rishon to be consistent with the other days, however it says Yom Echad, one day, not the first day, teaching us that whether life is good or bad for you, its just one day)

And on this concept we can explain the following verse -

Regarding this verse, our question would naturally be the extra usage of the words 'Bayom Hahu - That Day' which arent needed in this verse, we would already know it happened on the day they said it happened. It should have just said 'So he blessed them saying', instead of 'So he blessed them that day, saying.' - so why the extra wording of 'that day'? Also a further question, why does this verse have the word 'Lamor - Saying' twice within it?

Based on our above teaching, we will understand both of these questions. Firstly the words 'Bayom Hahu - That Day', is in itself its own Blessing that Jacob shares with his grandchildren. He was blessing them that they should achieve a level of spiritual refinement where they realize this concept of everything is 'that day', just one day. This is a tremendous blessing to give someone, as it will prevent genuine suffering in the mind when things get heated and hard, G-D forbid, and as well, your heart will not be inflated with ego when you are living the life of wealth and success, as you will simply remember that everything is just one day at a time. Don't think that your suffering will be forever, and don't think your wealth will be either, just live day by day.