And Yaakov lived in the land of Egypt for seventeen years, and Yaakov’s days, the years of his life, were a hundred and forty-seven years. (Breishis 47:28)

The Midrashic tells us that these were very productive and golden years for Yaakov, those last 17 years in Egypt. Therefore it says, “And Yaakov lived…” He saw his family grow to incredible numbers and he was playing an instrumental role as a grandfather, a teacher, and a guide preparing his children and grandchildren for a long and challenging history and more immediately, for a bitter exile. What exactly the curriculum was, may remain a mystery but for sure his years of ceaseless learning, his life’s experiences, and his personal wisdom was being sewn into the hearts and minds of all future generations. We see that he was working right up to the very end of his life, till the very last breath, instructing and blessing his children. We can remain wondering, “What could he have possibly been imparting?”

Here is a story I heard recently that might be helpful to possibly understand what YAAKOV was so busy doing the last 17 years of his life. Two buses of boys, seventh and eighth grade classes in Israel arrived after a long trip at a waterpark. It became apparent immediately to the Rebbes in charge that the waterpark was not reserved for male clientele only as they had planned.

Now, both the seventh and eighth grade Rebbes had the difficult task to break the news to the boys on each bus. When the eighth grade Rebbe told his class, there was a giant collective groan and as can be expected, everyone started to fount with expressions of disappointment and complaint. “No fair!” There wasn’t much for the Rebbe to say to quiet the crowd.

One boy asked the Rebbe if he could take the microphone for a moment and he announced to all the other students that we should be happy. We are doing the will of Hashem. There is nothing greater than that! Rather, we should be celebrating. He started singing and incredibly so did they!

When the 7th grade Rebbe called the 8th grade Rebbe to find out how the boys took the bad news, he told him that it actually went well. The 7th grade Rebbe said, “Don’t tell me. One boy took the microphone and told everyone they are doing the Ratzon HASHEM and they should be happy and everyone started singing ASHREINU!” “Exactly!” answered the Rebbe. “How did you know?” The 7th grade Rebbe told him the same thing happened on his bus too. Astonishingly they were two brothers.

When they got back to school, both Rebbes called up the mother of these two boys to share the unbelievable news and to ask her an important question. “What’s in the water at your house? How did you teach them or train them to do this? “The mother answered that she had no idea and she thought for a while then she remembered that a few years earlier, she took her children for a trip that didn’t work out and they were disappointed. So, they came back to a local ice cream shop in Jerusalem and when the ice cream was being served to them, she discovered that it’s not their standard of HEKSHER.

Again, they were disappointed, and when they came home with downcast faces, their father asked them what happened. When they explained how disappointed they were, he got all excited, and told his children that instead of being sad, they should be happy. The father told them to get dressed up in Shabbos clothing, and to set the table for a major celebration. The father went out and bought a giant meal. He spared no expense. They sat and they sang together as a family. “ASHREINU…”

What an impact a father can have on children. With quick thinking and the right attitude, he created nothing less than a revolution. Those boys on the bus won’t forget so soon. There is nothing more profitable or pleasurable than doing what HASHEM wants. I don’t know what Yaakov was teaching way back then, but he did a good job, because here we are many thousands of years later, still teaching and living the life!