There is a verse in the Torah that discusses tranquility in the strangest
of ways. In reference to Issachar, the
tribe dedicated to the study of Torah, it says that ‘he saw tranquility that it
was good, and the land that it was nice, and he bent his shoulder to carry
the burden, and he became an indentured servant’. On the surface, if one sees that tranquility is good, then one should seek it out directly- an isolated beach or
a peaceful park. How does seeing the goodness of tranquility lead a person to ‘carry
the burden’?
Human beings are restless. Staying in bed for long period of time is not
a sign of peace and tranquility, but a sign of depression. It is a strange phenomenon
for if one were asked, do they like to relax and likely they’ll say yes.
However, most agree that after a while, relaxation loses its luster and a
person finds himself itching to do something.
Rest only comes in handy after a dose of struggle has already occurred. Where
does that itch come from to need to work and struggle?
Deep inside we are aware that we have a purpose.
We are meant to do something and accomplish something with our life and until we arrive at
that destination we will be restless. Rest in the Jewish sense really means
arriving at a proper destination after a period of struggle. And Yissacher realizes
that universally, the ultimate tranquility only comes via a person's struggle to achieve moral
perfection via Torah study. Finding physical completion via career is only part of the picture. There is also an ethical dimension that requires fine tuning and until that job is done, we will find no rest. That is the type of tranquility that we call good.
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