Humility Through Divine Kindness Vayishlach תרל”ד 2
קטנתי מכל החסדים.
“I have become small from all the kindnesses.”
Jacob declares that the divine kindness he received caused him to feel diminished and humbled.
שמעתי מכבוד מו”ז ז”ל בשם הרב הק’ מלובלין ז”ל שגם מה שקטן בעיניו הוא מהחסדים של הש”י כו’.
I heard from my honored grandfather, of blessed memory, in the name of the holy Rabbi of Lublin, of blessed memory, that even what seems small in one’s eyes is itself among the kindnesses of the Holy One, blessed be He.
Even the sense of smallness a person feels is itself a divine gift, meant to awaken humility.
ונראה להוסיף ביאור כי יש לכל איש ישראל להשיג הכנעה וקטנות ע”י חסדי השי”ת שעושה עם האדם לפנים משורת הדין לכן צריך האדם להשיג בושה ולהכניע לפניו ית’.
It seems proper to add that every Jew must attain humility and smallness through the kindnesses that God performs for a person beyond the strict measure of justice; therefore one must acquire shamefacedness and submission before Him.
Divine kindness is meant to cultivate genuine spiritual humility.
וז”ש קטנתי מכל החסדים שמכל החסד וטוב שעשה עמו השיג קטנות עד שלא נשתנה כלל מעת שהי’ הולך לחרן עד חזרתו כדכתיב במקלי עברתי כו’.
Thus he said, “I have become small from all the kindnesses,” meaning that through every kindness and goodness shown to him he attained such humility that he remained unchanged from when he first went to Haran until his return, as it is written: “With my staff I crossed…”
Jacob’s humility preserved his spiritual constancy despite material success.
ואין זה דבר קטן שיזכור האדם עד עשרים שנה מה שהי’ לו.
And it is no small thing that a person remembers, even after twenty years, what he once had.
True gratitude involves long-term memory of the past.
וזה מצות זכירת יציאת מצרים שיזכור האדם כי השי”ת הוציאו מכל הסתר ועצת היצה”ר.
And this is the commandment to remember the Exodus from Egypt—that a person recall that God brought him out of all concealment and the counsel of the evil inclination.
The Exodus becomes a paradigm for personal liberation from spiritual bondage.
והאמת כי תכלית חסדי השי”ת הוא כשמשיג האדם הכנעה וקטנות ע”י החסדים זה אות ומופת שמקבל החסדים אליו והבן.
And the truth is that the ultimate purpose of God’s kindnesses is that a person attain humility and smallness through them; this is a sign that he truly receives those kindnesses—understand this.
Receiving divine kindness properly means internal transformation, not entitlement.
ויש לאדם לייגע עצמו וללמוד ממעשה אבותינו כדכתיב אלקי אבי אברהם כו’.
A person must exert himself and learn from the deeds of our ancestors, as it is written: “The God of my father Abraham…”
One becomes worthy by aligning with the patriarchs’ ways.
והקשו במדרש כי גם לעשו יש יחוס זה ואיך שייך תפלה זו נגד עשו.
The Midrash asks: Esau too has this lineage, so how is this prayer relevant against Esau?
The text questions how invoking ancestral merit distinguishes Jacob from Esau.
אך מי שבוחר בדרכיהם ועושה כמעשיהם אני מתקיים עליו.
But whoever chooses their ways and acts according to their deeds—upon him do I stand.
Ancestral merit applies only to those who consciously follow the patriarchs’ path.
פי’ ע”י שבוחר בכל לבו לעשות כמעשה אבותיו מועיל לו זכותם ויוכל לעשות כמעשיהם.
This means that by choosing with all his heart to act like the ancestors, their merit benefits him and he is enabled to act like them.
Commitment opens the channel to inherited spiritual strength.
[מעשיהם לא נאמר אלא כמעשיהם להיות נקודה של אמת להתדמות למעשיהם].
“Their deeds” is not said, but “like their deeds”—meaning that even a point of truth in imitating their deeds suffices.
One need not replicate the patriarchs perfectly; sincere approximation counts.
וז”ש כי ידעתיו כו’ יצוה כו’ בניו כו’ ביתו אחריו כו’.
Thus it says: “For I know him… that he will command his children… and his household after him.”
The patriarchs’ greatness lies in ensuring continuity of their path.
פי’ ע”י שזכו האבות להיות מעשיהם כתובים בתורה עי”ז יוכלו בני ישראל לעולם ללמוד מן מעשיהם.
This means that because the ancestors merited having their deeds written in the Torah, Israel can forever learn from their actions.
Recorded legacy enables eternal instruction.
וז”ש אשר יצוה כו’ ביתו אחריו הם כל בני ישראל כנ”ל.
Thus “that he will command… his household after him” refers to all Israel, as explained above.
The entire nation is considered the patriarchs’ spiritual household.
Summary: The Sefat Emet teaches that divine kindness is meant to generate deep humility, which is the true sign of receiving God’s gifts. Jacob embodies this by remaining spiritually unchanged despite material growth. Remembering past divine help parallels the Exodus and fosters gratitude. Ancestral merit applies only to those who choose to walk in their path, and because their deeds were recorded, every Jew can learn and emulate them, even imperfectly.
