In a recent video, Rav Michi Nazrolai shares a profound teaching that connects the Parashah to an extraordinary story of faith and determination.

The Parashah tells us that Jacob, despite passing away in Egypt, experienced the best years of his life in that morally corrupt land. How is that possible?

Our Sages explain that Jacob found immense joy in seeing his children uphold their traditions, study the Torah, and practice it with devotion—even in such a dark place. This brought him a happiness he had never experienced, not even in the Land of Israel.

Why? Because when one faces challenges and manages to illuminate the darkness with a mitzvah, its value becomes incomparably greater. The strength of Jewish identity, capable of emerging in any context, stands as a testament to its eternal bond with the Torah.

A Story of Faith and Determination

Rav Nazrolai shares a modern story that embodies this lesson:

A Russian Jew, who moved to America for illicit business dealings, ended up in prison. He was not observant, but within the prison walls, he began reflecting on his life and requested to meet a rabbi. After a sincere discussion, he decided to turn his life around and asked the rabbi to provide him with tefillin so he could pray every day.

For security reasons, the tefillin were kept by a guard, and each morning the man would enter the guard's office to don them. His fellow inmates (ironically referred to by Rav Nazrolai as “his friends”), many of whom were anti-Semitic, began beating him daily after his prayers. Despite the beatings, he never stopped putting on tefillin.

One day, the leader of the inmates issued a grave threat: “If you put on tefillin again, we’ll kill you.” But the Jew, with unwavering determination, continued his prayers. Leaving the guard’s office, he realized no one had harmed him. The leader approached him and said:

“From now on, no one will touch you. We’ve seen your courage and your faithfulness to your Judaism. We respect you.”

The Message

This episode teaches us that Jewish identity is destined to endure, shining even in the darkest places, turning challenges into opportunities for spiritual growth.

Even when we hit rock bottom or find ourselves surrounded by darkness, it is precisely there that we can find a light capable of transforming everything. In moments of difficulty, let us seek that light: we will find it.

---

If reading this article has inspired you to put on tefillin or if you wish to connect with a teacher, don’t hesitate to call Rav Michi Nazrolai at +39 3923295605.

📹 Watch the full video by Rav Michi Nazrolai here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqqr9V-oaGE