Q: Why did Yosef have Yaakov embalmed?! Embalming is prohibited by the Torah! Also why didn't Yosef bury Yaakov right away as is the halachic way?
Many Sages say that Yosef
was following his father's orders,
"His sons did for him exactly as he had
instructed them" (v12)
According to the Zohar... do not think, it says, that Yosef ordered the
embalming to preserve his father's body for the long journey to Kenaan. In
embalming him, he was following his father's wish. Having reached the highest
degree of holiness, Yaakov's body was free of all impurity. Yaakov resembled
Adam, physically and spiritually, and his life complemented Adam's.
Accordingly, his body was to rest in the Cave of Machpelah beside Adam's body,
which, as it had been created by the hand of G-d, remained for all time in its
original condition. Therefore it was "fitting and proper" that the body of
Yaakov should also remain intact. And it is in this sense that the Zohar
understands the phrase "Yaakov avinu lo met" (The body of a holy man who dies
by the Divine kiss is not affected by impurity - Ramban on
BaMidbar 19:2; Tosafot
to Ketubot 103b)
50:2 Above, in Toledot, we have written that until the body decays, the
deceased cannot rest in peace. This, however, is only true of the average
person, who has sinned and has the trait of jealously. Since body and soul
together must be punished after death, as long as the body endures, the soul has
anguish. Just as body and soul sinned together, they are punished together as
we have discussed in the Portion of Bereishit. Therefore, until the body decays
in the grave, the soul cannot leave.
This, however, is not true of tzaddikim (saints). Their bodies can remain
preserved for a long time without becoming wormy or decaying, but their souls
have no anguish. As soon as their souls leave their bodies, they ascend to a
special place under the Throne of Glory. (Chesed LeAvraham 4:53)
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