Vayeitzei

The passuk says ויצא יעקב מבאר שבע וילך חרנה. The mefarshim ask: it should have been sufficient to say “and Yaakov went to Charan.” Why mention that Yaakov left Be’er Sheva?

The Bais HaLevi explains that these two leshonos of “leaving” and “going” are referring to two different purposes. He explains when one travels from one city to another there are generally two options as to why he is traveling. One is because he is not happy where he is and therefore can’t remain there. Another reason is because he knows somewhere else is better. When one leaves because he’s unhappy where he is, the lashon of ויצא is used. When one leaves because another place is better, this is referred to as וילך because there is a specific point in going there. By Yaakov we find both purposes. Yaakov was commanded by both his father and his mother to leave and go. Yitzchak wanted Yaakov to go and find a wife. Rivka wanted Yaakov to go in order for him to be safe from Esav who wanted to kill him for stealing the berachos. The command of Yitzchak is referred to as וילך as he was going to Padan Aram for a specific purpose, which was to find a shidduch. The command of Rivka is referred to as ויצא, as Yaakov needed to leave the place he was in, since it was not safe. The main emphasis for Rivka was the leaving, not the going somewhere else. This is why the passuk uses both leshonos of ויצא and וילך.

Rashi explains that ויצא teaches us that when a tzaddik leaves a city there is now a lack, as his special glory and radiance leave with him.

The Gemara brings Rav Eliezer said in the name of Rabi Chanina: a tzaddik who is lost from the world, is lost to his generation. A mashal for this is a person who lost a pearl. The pearl is still a pearl wherever it is; it is just lost to its owner. A tzaddik has a very special connection to Hashem, and he brings to his generation shefa, bracha, and hatzlacha. When he leaves this world, we miss that special pipe which connects us to Hashem and through which bracha comes. The tzaddik, however, still has his ma’alos wherever he is!

From Yaakov we see that when a tzaddik leaves a place and travels elsewhere, there is something missing from where he left. We don’t have the same special connection through him which brings shefa and bracha.

May Hashem help us be zoche to live amongst gedolim and recognize the bracha which they bring us.