THE SAND
In this week’s Parsha, Vayishlach, our father Yaakov references HaShem’s promise that ‘his children shall be like to sand of the sea which is not counted because it is so numerous’. It is noteworthy that the promise was not that ‘they will as numerous as the sand of the sea’, but that ‘they shall be like the sand of the sea’. It would seem that the parallel to the sand is not limited to the number of grains but to the very essence of the sand. If this is correct we need to appreciate the significance of the sand of the sea.
The prophet Yirmiyahu in chapter 5 tells us in the name of HaShem, how He set the sand on the edge of the sea to prevent it from flooding the world. Behold – The significance of sand, specifically, the sand of the sea, is to protect the world from the destructive power of the sea!
Perhaps HaShem’s promise to our fathers was that their children would be the protective force for this world from becoming overwhelmed by the tidal waves that threaten Man’s existence.
Throughout the ages there have been movements and philosophies that threaten to overtake the world. Some come in the form of military force as we have seen in the last century, and others come in form of tolerance and acceptance of lifestyles and beliefs that are destructive to the moral fabric of society as we see today. In whatever form these tidal waves come, the world will be protected by the power of the Jewish people. We have the strength to withstand these tempestuous storms and to return the world to its calm.
There is, however, another noteworthy observation in HaShem’s promise to Yaakov. If the metaphor was limited to the power of sand against the sea, Hashem should have said that ‘your children will be like the sand of the sea’. Why does it add that ‘they will not be counted just as the sand is not counted’? The implication is that their children will not be counted just as the sand is not counted.
There are, however, two reasons why sand is not counted. The first reason is that there is no value in a single grain of sand. The power of sand lies in the bag of sand or some other larger unit. Only as a conglomerate mass can sand accomplish anything. The second reason why sand is not counted is because there are so many grains, it is virtually impossible to count because they are too numerous.
When Hashem compares His people to the sand, He says that they will not be counted just as sand is not counted ‘because it is too numerous’. The implication is that the only reason for not being counted is because there are too many to count, and not because every single member of klal Yisroel has no value. Quite to the contrary, every Jew is significant and every Jew has the potential to fend off the tidal wave of destruction that threatens to engulf the world. Hashem is telling us that although no single of grain of sand has value in itself, your children do have value; yes, each of your children has value and signifi-cance. The only reason they will not be counted is only because there will be so many of them.
What a metaphor! Their children will be like the sand of the sea in their ability to protect the world from destruction. But do not think that this strength lies only in the large numbers of the Jewish people like the sand. NO! Every single member of the Jewish people has the power of the sand.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind