Friday, Tevet 6, 5779 / December 14, 2018
B"H
Friday, Tevet 6, 5779 / December 14, 2018
Questions and answers about the story of Joseph reuniting with his brothers and his father, as related in this week’s Parsha, Vayigash:
Q. How many years was Joseph away from his family before re-uniting with them again?
A. Joseph was 17 when he was sold by his brothers, into slavery to the Egyptians. He spent 13 years, many of them in prison, before he was freed and made viceroy of Egypt. After being viceroy for 9 years, through the seven good years and two of the hunger years, he was reunited with his family. He brought them all to Egypt. He was away from his family 22 years. Joseph was 17 when he was sold and 39 when he met his father and brothers again.
Q. Is there a reason given why this painful separation happened to Joseph and Yaakov?
A. Here are two reasons: It was a measure-for-measure punishment to Jacob, for his being away from his parents for 22 years when he went to his uncle Lavan. He stayed with Lavan 20 years and two years of travelling time on his way home, for a total of 22 years.
Another reason: It was decreed many years earlier (about 240 years earlier), when G-d told Abraham that He will give his descendents the Land of Israel, but not before they will be strangers and enslaved in a foreign land. Thus, Yaakov and his family were destined to settle in Egypt.
There were two choices before G-d how to get Yaakov to go to Egypt. He could have gone in an honorable way or he could have been forced to go there under not so pleasant conditions. G-d chose to bring Yaakov and his family into Egypt with honor and dignity, by making his son, Joseph, the ruler of the land of Egypt.
Q. How many people came to Egypt with Yaakov?
A. Yaakov and his descendents, who came to Egypt, were 66. His granddaughter, Yocheved, who later gave birth to Moshe, was born as they entered Egypt. Together with Joseph and his two sons, who were already in Egypt, they were 70 people.
Q. Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream that Egypt will experience seven good years and seven famine years. At which point did Yaakov move to Egypt? How long did Yaakov live in Egypt?
A. Yaakov came after two years of famine. However, in Yaakov’s merit, the famine stopped. Thus, there were only two years of famine instead of seven. Yaakov lived in Egypt for 17 years. He was 130 when he came and he passed away at 147.
SHABBAT SHALOM
MontrealCandle lighting time: 3:53 / Shabbat ends 5:02
Thursday, Tevet 5, 5779 / December 13, 2018
B"H
Thursday, Tevet 5, 5779 / December 13, 2018
In this week’s Parsha, Vayigash, Joseph finally reveals his true identity to his brothers. He exclaims, "I am Joseph your brother whom you have sold to Egypt. And now, do not be saddenednor shall you be upset that you sold me here, for G-d sent me before you to preserve life
On one hand, Joseph reminds the brothers that they sold him into slavery. At the same time, he tells them, Do not be saddened for it was G-d's will, to save lives during the famine years.
According to the teachings of Kaballah (mysticism) and Chassidus, sadness and dejection interfere with our connection to G-d and at the same time, distorts one's view on life.
According to the great Kabalist, Rabbi Yitzchak Lurie (Ari Hakadosh), Joseph tells his brothers, "do not be saddened," in order that they will realize and understand that it was G-d who sent him to Egypt. Sadness and dejection gets in the way of appreciating everything which G-d does for us.
One who is happy, and everyone can find so much to be happy and thankful for, will deal with difficulty in a much better and easier way than one who is not.
The Baal Shem Tov, the founder of the Chassidic movement, stated, "Although sadness and dejection may not be listed among the sins of the Torah, yet, sadness and dejection can weigh a person down to the lowest levels, even more than sins. On the other hand, being joyous and happy can lead a person to the greatest spiritual heights!"
King David says in Psalm 100, "Let all the earth sing in jubilation to G-d. Serve G-d with joy; come before Him with exultation." To come before G-d and feel His presence, one needs to be joyous.
In Psalms (121) King David says, "Hashem tzilcha" (G-d is your protective shade). Our sages explain that "tzilcha" can be translated as, "your shadow." Just as a person's shadow is an exact copy of the way the person acts, so too, G-d is our shadow – He acts with us as we do. When a person is happy and thinks positive, he causes happiness in the heavenly spheres, which in turn, cause joy, goodness and blessings to flow down from above.
This can also be understood in the words of the Mishna, "Who is rich? One who is happy with their lot." When one is happy with their lot in life, it causes the heavens above to smile upon them, which in turn bring blessings.
The Baal Shem Tov said, "Sadness closes the gates of heaven. Prayer opens the gates of heaven. The power of "simcha" - "joy" is so great that it can breach through any barriers in the heavenly walls!"
Happiness is a result of positive thinking which in turn brings positive results.
HAVE A GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY SUCCESSFUL & WONDERFUL DAY
Wednesday, Tevet 4, 5779 / December 12, 2018
B"H
Wednesday, Tevet 4, 5779 / December 12, 2018
Parshat Vayeishev which we read two weeks ago, Parshat Mikeitz which we read last Shabbat, and Parshat Vayigash which we will read this Shabbat all tell the story of Joseph (Yosef).
In Parshat Vayeishev, the Torah recounts how, as a result of jealousy, the brothers sold Joseph into slavery. Joseph ended up in Egypt where he endured many hardships. In Parshat Mikeitz, Joseph correctly interpreted Pharaoh's dreams and was made the ruler of Egypt.
In this week's Parsha,Vayigash, Joseph finally reveals his identity to his brothers, who sold him 22 years earlier. The Torah says that at one point, "Joseph could not restrain himself anymore." He commands the Egyptians to leave the room to spare his brothers from embarrassment. Then he reveals his identity by crying out, "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" The Torah then declares, "And his brothers could not answer him for they were frightened at his presence."
Joseph consoles them, "Do not grieve nor should you be angry with yourselves that you have sold me here; For to preserve life did G-d send me here before you." Joseph explains that, "It was not you who sent me here, but G-d; He has made me a ruler of the land of Egypt".
Joseph urges his brothers to hurry back home and bring their father, Yaakov (Jacob), and their families to Egypt, where he will look after all their needs. Jacob's entire family, numbering seventy souls, move to Egypt. Only now did Yaakov understand the apparent loss of his beloved son, Joseph, twenty two years earlier. Joseph had a Divine mission in Egypt to save the lives of many people, including his own family members!
This Torah reading should serve as a guide, inspiration, and lesson for us. Throughout life, we experience events which we feel, "should have, or could have been different." Parshat Vayigash teaches us, as Joseph told his brothers who sold him into slavery; "It was not you who sent me here, but G-d!" Our vision of things is very limited. Only G-d sees the entire picture.
In Psalms, King David states, "From G-d are man's footsteps established." Although it may seem that we decide where we go, King David tells us that G-d is really the One who guides our footsteps.
The story is told of a governor who met a rabbi walking in the street, "Where are you going?" He asked the rabbi. "I don't know," the rabbi replied. The governor became angry at the rabbi's answer and threw him in jail. The next day, the rabbi was brought before him; "How come, when I asked you yesterday where you were going, you didn't tell me? Were you mocking me?" asked the governor.
“G-d forbid,” replied the rabbi. "Had you asked me where I planned to go, I would have told you, but you asked me where was I going? You wanted a definite answer and only G-d knows that. You see for yourself that I ended up in jail... It was surely not the place I intended to go to…"
HAVE A GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY SUCCESSFUL & WONDERFUL DAY
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