Parshas Vayechi 5786 - Giving 100%

At the beginning of this week’s parsha, Yaakov is nearing the end of his life. He calls Yosef to his bedside and asks him to promise that he will not be buried in Egypt, but rather in the Land of Israel:

“Please if I have found favor in your eyes, please place your hand under my thigh and do kindness and truth with me – please do not bury me in Egypt. For I will lie down with my fathers and you shall transport me out of Egypt and bury me in their tomb. He [Yosef] said, ‘I personally will do as you have said.’ He [Yaakov] replied, ‘Swear to me,’ and he swore to him.” (Beraishis 47:29-32).

Even though Yosef personally promised to fulfill his father’s request, Yaakov insisted that he swear an oath. This is puzzling. Yosef was Yaakov’s beloved and righteous son, who consistently fulfilled his father’s wishes without hesitation. When Yaakov once sent Yosef alone to find his brothers—a mission fraught with danger—Yosef immediately complied. Why, then, was Yosef’s word not sufficient here?

The Ramban explains that Yaakov was not concerned about Yosef’s willingness. He trusted that Yosef would do everything in his power to bury him in Israel. Rather, Yaakov was concerned about Pharaoh. Pharaoh might prevent Yosef from leaving Egypt or insist that Yaakov be buried there as a national figure. By requiring Yosef to swear an oath, Yaakov ensured that Pharaoh would not pressure Yosef to violate a solemn commitment.

However, the Ramban adds an additional point: the oath itself would motivate Yosef to exert even greater effort than he otherwise would have. At first glance, this seems contradictory. If Yaakov trusted Yosef to make every effort, why would an oath be needed to inspire greater effort?

Rav Henoch Leibowitz, zt”l, resolves this apparent contradiction. Yaakov fully trusted Yosef’s dedication, but he also understood human nature. Yosef might encounter overwhelming obstacles—political resistance, logistical barriers, or circumstances that made success appear impossible. Without an oath, even the most devoted person might eventually resign himself to failure. By swearing an oath, Yosef bound himself to persevere no matter the difficulty. The oath would unlock reserves of determination, creativity, and strength that Yosef himself may not have realized he possessed.

This idea is often described in modern terms as giving “110%.” While mathematically imprecise, the phrase captures an important idea: when a person commits fully, especially under pressure, hidden capacities can emerge.

Often, the greatest obstacle to success lies not in external circumstances but within ourselves. We may underestimate our abilities or assume that certain challenges are beyond us. Yaakov teaches us otherwise. We should not give up.  When a mission truly matters, and when we bind ourselves to it with deep commitment, Hashem helps us uncover strengths we did not know we had and surpass seemingly impossible barriers.

May we merit to awaken the tremendous potential that Hashem has placed within each of us, to persevere in the face of difficulty, and to accomplish goals that once seemed unattainable—thereby helping to bring greater blessing into the world.