Vayishlach

The pesukim in this parsha tell us that Yaakov sent presents to Esav.  When Yaakov and Esav met, Esav said, “yaish lee rav,” therefore I don’t want to take the presents.  Yaakov replied, “yaish lee kol,” therefore you should take the presents.  What is the meaning of Esav’s “yaish lee rav” and Yaakov’s “yaish lee kol”?

The Kli Yakar explains that “rav” means a lot but not all.  A rasha will always feel that he is missing something, even if has all the gold and silver in the world.  This is as Chazal say “yaish lo mana rotzeh masayim, one who has 100 wants 200.”  He’s always hoping and searching for more and is never satisfied.  The tzaddik is the opposite.  “Ki chanani Elokim vichi yaish lee kol” is what Yaakov said.  Even if the tzaddik has little, he is happy with his portion and feels he has everything.  He feels that everything is chesed Hashem and he is undeserving as Yaakov said “ki chanani”, whereas the rasha feels he deserves what he has.

I heard a mashal beshaim Rav Eiseman shlita.  When a family goes on a trip and the father asks, “do we have everything?  Is everything packed?” this would mean are they all set for the trip: food, clothes, etc.  However, this same question “do we have everything?” would mean something completely different when asked before moving from one house to another.  There it would include everything in the house.  Similarly here: a rasha’s life is only for this world and he therefore tries to have as much pleasure as possible.  A tzaddik’s life however is a preparation for the next world.  If he has enough for the trip he can feel “yaish lee kol– I have everything!”

This point is expressed in Pirkei Avos: Eizehu ashir hasameach bichelko– who is rich? One who is happy with his lot.   I heard another explanation from Avi Mori shlita from HaRav Avigdor Miller zatzal, that “ashir” stands for “anayim, shinayaim, yadayim, raglayim”.  This means that when one recognizes and appreciates his physical wellbeing he will be happy.

May we be zoche to feel the tzaddik’s “yaish lee kol” by recognizing and appreciating our ashirus.