Drasha - Parshas Vayigash Age Old Questions Volume 2 Issue 11 It
was the ultimate encounter. Yaakov, the consummate theologian,
meets Pharoh, the king of the powerful land of Egypt. What could
they have discussed? The meaning of life? The geopolitics of
famine? They don't. Instead, the Torah records that meeting as
having to do with something quite mundane. Age. Yet that trite
discussion had severe ramifications for our The Torah relates
how Yoseph presents his father to Pharoh. Genesis 47: 9-10:
"Pharoh asked Yaakov, 'How old are you?' Jacob answered, 'the
years of my sojourns are one hundred thirty; few and bad ones;
they have not reached the days of my forefathers in their
sojourns.' " There is a Midrash that notes the bitterness of
Yaakov's response and makes an amazing calculation. Yaakov lived
to the age of 147. His father lived 'till 180. There is a
difference of 33 years. Yaakov, explains the Midrash, lost 33
years of his life due to the 33 words that were used as he
cursed his life's struggles. The M