This week's parsha starts by telling us how Yaakov departed from Be'er Sheva, heading for Charan. Rashi comments on this that the departure of a tzaddik from a place has a significant impact - the spiritual shine of the place is depleted. The question is, why did Rashi wait until Yaakov to tell us about this phenomenon? Why didn't Rashi tell us about the impact made on various places when Avraham or Yitzchak left them?
The answer is because by Avraham and Yitzchak, that their departure caused an impact was obvious - being the outgoing kiruv personalities that they were, everyone would notice the decrease in kedusha when they left. Yaakov, however, was a "yoshev ohalim" - a quiet, unassuming person - and thus one might have thought that he didn't make much of an impression when he left. That is why Rashi tells us that quite the contrary - the limud hatorah of a tzaddik like Yaakov Avinu is of such significance, that even though outwardly it may not seem impressive, nevertheless it has a tremendous effect on the spirituality of his surroundings.
Likewise, we must learn from here how choshuv an atmosphere of Torah is. Even if one is not actually learning in a yeshiva, by living in a Torah community and associating oneself with Torah scholars, one can benefit from the special aura that the Torah brings. By supporting Torah institutions and talmidei chachamim, one gains a share in the special light that is characteristic of the Torah and its followers.
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