As I write this column, after attending the funeral of First Sgt. Netanel Pessach, the 20th alumnus of the Ohr Torah Stone network to fall in battle, these ancient episodes take on a deeper and more personal meaning. During Netanel’s funeral, with the portion of Vayechi in mind, I found myself reflecting on a commonality between Jacob and David: In the Gemara in Taanit (5b), Rav Yitzchak surprisingly declares that Yaakov never died. By the same token, in Rosh Hashana (25a), Rebbi (Yehuda HaNasi, aka Judah the Prince) introduces the phrase, still present in our liturgy and the origin of the popular song, “David, melech Yisrael, hai, hai vekayam,” announcing that “David, King of Israel, lives, lives, and exists.” In what sense can truth be found in these two profound statements?
Both Rav Yitzchak and Rebbi are clearly speaking not of the physical personalities of Jacob and David, but of what each represents.
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