VOLUME 113 NUMBER 7
Kislev 19, 5785
December 20, 2024
Parshas Vayeishev
Candlelighting Time 4:20

            Yaakov sent Yosef to his brothers in Shechem. Although there was a degree of tension between him and his brothers, nonetheless he obeyed his father and went to check up on them. Eventually he became lost and encountered someone, unbeknownst to him that it was an angel, and he was told that they had relocated to Dosan. Therefore, he headed to meet them there. Chasam Sofer questions why did they leave Shechem, the original grazing area and go to Dosan. He provides a very interesting insight into their minds. They did not trust Yosef and viewed him in a negative fashion since Yaakov seemed to favor him and he had slandered them. Although his slander was that Yaakov should reprimand them still it was taken as a verbal assault against them. Even so, they were very hesitant to confront him in an aggressive manner and they chose to avoid encountering them. Therefore, they changed their location hoping that he would not find them and they would not have to act against him. When he indeed did find them they assumed that it was a sign from Heaven that they should accost him. Resultantly, they eventually threw him in to the pit and then sold him to a caravan and he ended up in Egypt. Little did they realize at the time that he would be their subsequent salvation many years later in Egypt. The brothers were amazed that he had followed them to Dosan but assumed that it was Hashem’s plan that he should encounter them. Therefore, they proceeded to deal with him as they felt appropriate and although they were mistaken that was only known afterwards.

            Indeed, Nachmonides comments on this episode that Yosef met a stranger, an angel, that directed him to his brothers. Even though he would have had sufficient reason to turn back he persisted to honor his father’s wishes to go to his brothers and therefore it was ‘arranged’ for him to continue. He defines this happening stating that one’s cunning and ingenuity is for naught for the decree of Hashem will predominate. Yosef was destined to become the viceroy in Egypt and the crucial element in saving the lives of his family and resultantly he had to end up over there. That his brothers played a central role in this development only serves to demonstrate Nachmonides’ statement that Hashem’s will triumphs. The underlying theme of this assertion is that we truthfully cannot avert, modify or in any way change what needs to happen. And this applies to all facets of life whether they involve a person’s economic status, struggles in life or health concerns. Of course, we must always turn to Hashem and daven that we should merit only the best of health, and not face challenges and be successful, but in the final analysis that which is deemed to be our lot in life will occur. And that is exactly the point of this episode that we must deal with our tests in life with steadfast faith that Hashem has orchestrated the most beneficial situation for us although we may think otherwise. As Rabbi Akiva stated that all that Hashem does is for the best and we grow and develop when we weather those difficult storms in life and realize that Hashem’s hand is holding ours. This lesson is especially vital when we raise our children and nurture them. They must see how we handle life’s vicissitudes and they will then realize and grasp this most important attitude that will carry them through their ordeals and tribulations that they will meet.

A BYTE FOR SHABBOS

Yaakov favored Yosef and made a special mantle for him. That mantle lead added to the eventual malcontent between Yosef and his brothers. It is called the mantle of ‘Pasim’ which its four Hebrew letters allude to the ordeals that Yosef had to deal with. His sale to the caravan enroute to Egypt and his dilemma with the wife of his boss Potifar. All of these difficulties were a result of that well-intended mantle but unfortunately poorly planned gift.                                                         K’SAV  SOFER

GOOD SHABBOS

THERE IS PRESENTLY TREMENDOUS UPHEAVAL IN THE MIDDLE EAST. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. THE ENTIRE WORLD IS HOLDING ITS BREATH WONDERING ABOUT THE STABILITY OF THE ENTIRE AREA. WE ALSO DON’T KNOW HOWEVER OUR LACK OF CERTAINTY IS BOLSTERED BY OUR KNOWLEDGE THAT HASHEM HAS A PLAN TO LEAD THE WORLD TO ITS FINAL STAGE OF PERMANENCE WHERE EVERYONE IS REGARDED WITH POTENTIAL AND THEREFORE, WE MUST CONTINUE TO DAVEN AND LEARN FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ERETZ YISROEL AND REMEMBER THAT ALL IS IN THE HANDS OF HASHEM.