„And Isaac dug again”

Among the fascinating stories in this week's Torah portion about the birth of Jacob and Esau, the struggles between them that began in their mother's womb, the theft of the blessings, and the story of Abimelech, there is a seemingly marginal story about wells. Well after well that Isaac and his servants dug again and again and again. This marginal story is the most detailed account brought about Isaac our forefather, and it is fascinating to try to understand why the text focuses specifically on this.

In one of Rav Kook's fascinating essays, 'To Add Courage' (I highly recommend seeking out and reading the essay in full—it is simple and understandable), there is a parable describing the digging of a well. The digging is done in dry earth, out of faith that living water will one day burst forth and quench man and land. The process is described with a masterful hand, together with the despair of the workers and the immense difficulty of the never-ending labor. The main collapse of spirit comes precisely when the workers reach water, but see it full of mire and mud. Then many of the diggers withdraw from their work, full of despair and rage. Facing them stand the believing diggers. They call to those who withdraw to continue just a little more, so that living water will burst forth and flow.

Rav Kook compares this scene to life itself, and also to the reality in days of crisis in the Zionist movement on which the essay focused. The expectation of those engaged in the work was for living, flowing water, and when at the beginning of the road they also saw failures, their heart fell and despair prevailed.

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A person's greatness is in perseverance and in the understanding that difficulties are part of our lives. One who perseveres and tries again and again will in the end reach the goal and succeed, and every deed brings us closer to redemption. Isaac's wells were markers upon the land that enabled us, his sons and daughters, to return here after thousands of years and to establish a state and a Jewish home for the people of Israel. Even when success seems distant, one who does not despair and continues to act—builds for himself and for those who come after him a future and a life. Remember this when you encounter difficulty—whether it be a deep well, or a daily digging.

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In memory of Malka bat Clara