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
B"H
Tuesday, Tevet 7, 5781 / December 22, 2020
In this week's Parsha, Vayigash, Joseph finally reveals his true identity and is reunited with his brothers, proclaiming, "I am Joseph!" In order for his brothers to believe him, he adds, "And behold your eyes and the eyes of my brother, Binyamin, see that it is my mouth which speaks to you." Until now Joseph spoke Egyptian and they had a translator between them. Now Joseph spoke to them in Hebrew, proving to them that he was their long lost brother.
The Torah continues, "And he [Joseph] fell upon his brother Binyamin's neck and wept; and Binyamin wept upon his [Joseph’s] neck."
Joseph encourages his brothers, "Hasten and go up to my father and say to him, 'Thus said your son Joseph; G-d made me ruler over Egypt, come down to me, do not delay. And you will live in the land of Goshen and you will be near to me... I will sustain you there, for there are yet five years of famine.'"
G-d appeared to Yaakov and said, "I am G-d the G-d of your fathers; fear not to go down to Egypt, for into a great nation I will make you there. I will go with you into Egypt, and I will bring you up."
Yaakov together with his descendants, for a total of seventy people, came into Egypt. With Yaakov's coming to Egypt began the Egyptian exile which lasted 210 years.
Q. Why is Binyamin singled out more than the other ten brothers?
A. Binyamin and Joseph shared the same mother, Rachel. Also, Binyamin, who was the youngest, was at home at the time they sold Joseph and was not involved in his sale.
Q. How old was Joseph when he was finally reunited with his brothers and his father?
A. He was 39. Joseph was sold at age 17 and was away from his father for 22 years.
Q. Why did Joseph and Binyamin cry on each others shoulders?
A. Our sages explain that Joseph wept on Binyamin's shoulder because he saw, through Divine vision, the destruction of the Holy Temple (Beth HaMikdash) which would be situated on the land of the Tribe of Binyamin. Meanwhile, Binyamin wept on Joseph's shoulder for the destruction of the Temple in Shiloh which was on the land of the Tribe of Joseph.
Rabbi Yechezkel of Kuzmir asks, "Why did each of them cry on the destruction of the other ones Temple and not on their own Temple? He replies, "This teaches us that true "Ahavat Yisrael" (love your fellow) is when someone else's pain is felt even more than one's own pain!
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Wednesday, Tevet 8, 5781 / December 23, 2020
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 saddened nor shall you be angry with yourselves that you sold me here, for G-d sent me before you to preserve life." He then repeats, "It was not you that sent me here, but G-d."
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, for the purpose of saving 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 Rabbi Yitzchak Lurie (Ari Hakadosh), Joseph tells his brothers, "do not be saddened," so that they can realize and understand that, "It was G-d who sent him to Egypt."
Being sad and dejected gets in the way of appreciating everything which G-d does for us, be it good or what seems to us as bad. One who is happy, and everyone can find so much to be happy and thankful about, can accept and deal with life in a much better and easier way than one who is not.
The Baal Shem Tov, 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. On the other hand, being joyous and happy may not be listed among the mitzvot of the Torah, yet, it 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 one needs to be joyous. Happiness is a result of positive thinking which in turn causes positive results.
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 moves, so too, G-d is our shadow – He acts with us as we do. Thus, 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.
The Talmudic sages say, "Who is rich? One who is happy with his lot." When one is happy with their lot in life, it causes the heavens above to smile upon him, 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!"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Friday, Tevet 10, 5781 / December 25, 2020
Today (Friday), the 10th day of the Hebrew month,Tevet, is a fast day.
On this day, in the year 3336 (-425), Nebuchadnezar, king of Babylon, began his siege of Jerusalem. It ended in the year 3338 (-423), with the destruction of the First Beth Hamikdash (Holy Temple) and the exile of Jews from Israel to Babylon.
Though Nebuchadnezar's mighty army laid siege to Jerusalem, the small Jewish army within its walls inflicted heavy loses on their attackers. Despite starvation in the city, they fought heroically for two and a half years. Finally, on the 17th of Tammuz (also a fast day), Nebuchadnezar's army breached the walls of Jerusalem and three weeks later, on the 9th of Av (also declared as a fast day) they set fire to the Holy Temple.
The First Temple was built by King Solomon four hundred and forty years after the Jewish people came to Israel. That Temple stood for 410 years until it was destroyed by Nebuchadnezar.
Q. Why should we remember a tragic event which took place thousands of years ago?
A. The Code of Jewish Law states the reason for these fasts, which is relevant to us today: "The purpose of the fast is to stir our hearts to repentance and to remind us of our own misdeeds, as well as those of our ancestors, which brought upon them and us, all these troubles. Remembering these events encourages us to improve our ways."
On a positive note: The Prophets tell us that these fast days will be suspended when Moshiach comes and will, in fact, become days of happiness, rejoicing and festivity. May he come speedily in our days and may these fast days be days of rejoicing. Amen.
Q. How many fast days are there throughout the year and which are they?
A.There are six fast days during the year. The order of the fasts as they occur in the Hebrew calendar are: Tzom Gedaliya - Fast of Gedaliya (3rd of Tishrei); Yom Kippur (10th of Tishrei); Asara B'Tevet (10th of Tevet); Ta'anit Esther - Fast of Esther (13th of Adar); Shiva Asar B'Tammuz (17th of Tammuz); Tisha B'Av (9th of Av). Four of them are associated with the destruction of the Temple.
Q. How long did the First & Second Temple stand?
A. The First Temple was built by King Solomon four hundred and forty years after the people of Israel entered into the Land of Israel. The First Temple stood for 410 years until it was destroyed, as mentioned above, by Nebuchadnezar. The Second Temple was built by Ezra the Scribe and stood for 420 years.
SHABBAT SHALOM
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