Parshat VaYeishev

[Ayala1]

I found the idea that Rabbi Riechman mentioned at the end of this shiur incredibly beautiful. He asked why it wasn't enough that the Avot were mitaken the world, and why couldn't mashiach be  achieved just by the actions of the Avot? He answered that Hashem doesn't only want the mitzvot of major tzadikim, but He also wants the hard work of the smaller people, of you and me. Hashem wanted to leave room for the shevatim and all their future generations to work on themselves and the world.
This is very great encouragement for us as we work on our avodas Hashem. At times we may get discouraged that our avodas Hashem is not even close to the level of the tzadikim. We feel that compared to them we are unable to achieve anything in this world. But at such times we must be reminded that Hashem didn't bring Mashiach in the time of the Avot in order to let us have room for even our small actions. As the Yalkut Shimoni in Melachim II, 18 says, 'Makom henichu li avosi lihisgader bah' - my ancestors have left me a place to make a fence around it. Chizkiyahu destroyed the nachas hanichoshes that Benei Yisroel were worshiping as an avoda zara. Many rightous kings came before Chizkiyahu and none of them destroyed it, and so Chizkiyahu understood it in this way, the our ancestors, no matter how great they were, have also left us an area to contribute. We must all try to not be discouraged and recongize that Hashem wants us to discover our unique contribution to the world.