Jewish Life #39. Beresjiet serie #23:To persist is a matter of heart.

In Proverbs 20:5 we read: ‘Counsel is like deep water in the heart of man; and the man of understanding draws it forth.’ What is the connection between this text from the book of Proverbs and verse 45:1a of Parashah Vayigash, where we read: ‘And Joseph was not able to constrain himself.’  
 
When one wishes to draw water from a deep well, one ties lengths of cord one to another until the rope is long enough to reach the water (Malbim).[1] In Midrash Rabbah we read: ‘This may be compared to a deep well whose waters were cool and fresh, but no creature could reach them. The one person came and tied rope to rope, strand to strand, and string to string, and drew up water and drank; whereupon all could draw and drink. So, did Judah persist in responding to Joseph word upon word until he reached his heart.’[2]
Just as someone must find ways to reach water deep in a well, so too, a person must- and can- sincerely search within himself to find the Divine spark (Sfas Emes).[3]
 
The text in Proverbs literally reads: ‘Deep water is counsel in the heart of man,’ and needs to be arranged to be understood.[4] The word counsel (etzah) connotes a plan, wisdom, and understanding. The word ‘man’ implies someone great and wise. Deep water refers to something which is difficult to draw up. Ibn Ezra suggest: ‘A man of understanding will draw it out. He will ‘raise up’ the counsel, as if with a bucket. In other words, he will understand himself by seriously focusing and exploring. We can say from this: Judah discovered himself.
 
According to Rashi, the repetition of the word ‘man’ in Proverbs 20:5, implies that this verse is speaking of two people: a student and his teacher. A teacher might conceal the knowledge in the depths of his heart. Like Judah, a student (or child) must labor to elicit his teacher’s knowledge (like Joseph). In fact, each person must work hard to acquire the qualities of a good heart. This is one of the reasons why Judaism places so much emphasis on the parent-child and teacher-student relationships. In clinical psychology, and therapy, it is precisely for this reason that we emphasize the quality of the therapeutic relationship.
 
To persist is a matter of heart.
 
[1] Scherman, N. & Zlotowitz, M. (2019). Proverbs. ArtScroll Series (p. 171). 
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid., p.172.
[4] Kil, Y. (2014). The Bible, Proverbs, with the Jerusalem Commentary. Mosad Harav Kook (p.211).

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