There is a fundamental difference between existing and being. The Torah relates that Jacob, in his final years - "lived" (Vayechi). Why, precisely at the moment he sees the impending doom of the Egyptian exile, is he described as fully alive?
In a world that defines success in so many ways, the Torah is teaching us a simple, but profound lesson: living is that which lives on. Success is about continuity of values. In his twilight years, Jacob found himself in a foreign land that was about to turn against him. But, he also saw his family - a unified family - perpetuating the faith of his ancestors. As we allocate our precious resources (of which time is the most valuable commodity) may we invest in family and our true timeless future.
