B"H
Monday, Tevet 6, 5781 / December 21, 2020
In last week‘s Parsha, Mikeitz, the Torah relates the story of Joseph and his brothers. Joseph became ruler of the land of Egypt, after correctly interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams. His brothers came to Egypt to buy food and Joseph recognized them, but they didn’t recognize him.
Joseph, whom they think to be an Egyptian, accuses them of being spies. They deny it. They tell him about their family and about their lost brother. They tell him about their old father and their younger brother who stayed home with their father. He tells them that the only proof he will accept that they are not spies, is if they bring their younger brother with them, the next time they come to Egypt.
The next time they have to go purchase food, they tell Yaakov that Binyamin must come with them. But Yaakov refuses. He already lost one child and is afraid to lose Binyamin too. After all, Joseph and Binyamin are his children from his beloved wife, Rachel, who passed away in her youth. He doesn’t want to lose both of them. In the end, Yaakov has no choice and gives in. Otherwise they cannot go buy food.
Joseph devises a scheme in which he accuses Binyamin of stealing his special silver cup and wants to keep him as a slave. The brothers argue with Joseph. They explain to him that their old father will die if Binyamin does not return. They offer themselves as slaves instead. When Joseph saw the great devotion of the brothers toward each other, he knew that they regretted what they did to him.
In this week’s Parsha, Vayigash, Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers. He exclaims, “I am Yosef (Joseph)! Is my father still alive? Then Joseph continues, “I am Joseph your brother whom you sold to the Egyptians. And now do not be saddened nor shall you be angry with yourselves that you sold me here, for G-d send me before you to preserve life..."
Q. Joseph knew that his father was alive! He was told over and over again that Binyamin must go back because it would cause his father’s death. Why does he ask, “Is my father still alive?”
A. “Alive” can also mean in “spirit.” One can be physically alive and yet be as good as dead. Joseph asked, “Is my father still alive” – how is his spirit; is he still the same as when I was with him twenty two years ago or not? Yaakov was in mourning during the entire twenty two years that Joseph was away from him. Indeed, the Torah tells us that when they came back and told Jacob that Joseph was alive, “The spirit of Yaakov was revived and he became alive again.”
“And now do not be saddened… for G-d sent me before you to preserve life.” According to the teachings of Kaballah and Chassidus, sadness and dejection interfere with our connection to G-d and distort our view of what happens to us in life. Happiness is a result of positive thinking which brings positive results.
Rabbi Yitzchak Lurie (Ari Hakadosh) explains that Joseph tells his brothers, "do not be saddened," in order that you can realize and understand that, "it was G-d who sent me to Egypt."
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." In other words, to come before G-d one needs to be joyous.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY