STRAW

PHARAOH ORDERED THE SLAVES TO GATHER THEIR OWN STRAW EVEN WHILE THEY HAD TO MAKE THE SAME NUMBER OF BRICKS DAILY. THIS WAS MEANT TO DIVERT THEIR THOUGHTS FROM ANYTHING OTHER THAN THEIR SERVICE TO PHARAOH. THE NET RESULT WAS THAT THE LEADERS OF THE PEOPLE REJECTED MOSHE'S ENCOURAGEMENT AND CRITICIZED HIS EFFORTS.
MOSHE FELT THAT HIS MISSION HAD RESULTED IN FAILURE . FOR IF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WOULD NOT WANT TO BE REDEEMED , THEN HOW COULD HE MAKE ANY DEMANDS ON PHARAOH. COMING BACK TO G-D, MOSHE COMPLAINS THAT HE HAS FAILED AND IS UPSET AS THAT G-D HAS CHOSEN TO SEND HIM WHEN IT APPEARS THAT HE WAS THE WRONG MAN AT THE WRONG TIME FOR THE WRONG MISSION!
G-D ANSWERS MOSHE "NOW YOU WILL SEE THAT PHARAOH WILL SEND THEM OUT AGAINST HIS WILL . SO HASTILY WILL THIS BE THAT EVEN THE PEOPLE WILL NOT BE READY TO LEAVE WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND ARE ORDERED TO GO!
WHAT IS G-D'S RESPONSE? NOW YOU WILL SEE?WOULDN'T IT HAVE BEEN BETTER TO SAY THAT IN 6 MONTHS THEY WOULD LEAVE,WHY DOES G-D SAY NOW YOU WILL SEE?
WHY DOES G-D ALLOW THIS SUFFERING TO HAPPEN THROUGH G-D'S MISSION TO SAVE THE ISRAELITES FROM FURTHER PAIN?
HOW CAN G-D'S SUBSEQUENT MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE BE RECEIVED-G-D TELLS MOSHE AT THAT POINT TO TELL THEM THAT G-D WILL REDEEM THEM FULLY IN FOUR (FIVE ) STAGES,IF THEY ARE SUFFERING SO BADLY FROM HAVING THE ADDED DISTRESS OF THE STRAW?
MOST OPINIONS STATE THAT THIS DECREE OF PHARAOH SERVED TO
PUNISH HIM MORE IN THE FUTURE. AS A RESULT OF HIS EVIL CHOICES IN PERSECUTING INNOCENT PEOPLE HE LOST HIS ABILITY TO CHOOSE AND COULD NOT DO TESHUVAH.
THIS RESULTED IN HIS RECEIVING GREATER AND MORE WONDROUS PUNISHMENTS.
ALSO, A WICKED MAN MUST REACH A CERTAIN QUANTA OF SIN IN ORDER TO EVOKE DIVINE INTERVENTION.
HOWEVER, USING THE BAAL SHEM TOV'S MAXIM THAT THE TZORAH TROUBLE ITSELF WILL BECOME THE TZOHAR-THE LIGHT THAT SAVES THE PERSON FROM HIS TRAVAIL,
WE CAN GUESS THE FOLLOWING:
PHARAOH ORDERED THE PEOPLE TO GATHER STRAW THEMSELVES.THIS PUT GREAT STRAIN UPON THEM. MANY WORKERS FELT THEMSELVES OVERCOME BY THE ANXIETY OF THE FEARFUL BEATINGS THEY WOULD RECEIVED AND FAINTED IN THE PROCESS. THE MEN GOING TO GET THE STRAW CLOGGED THE ROADS THAT THE MEN WORKING ON BRICKS TRAVELLED. THIS CAUSED HUGE DELAYS. EACH GROUP WAS YELLING THAT THE OTHER GROUP MUST GET OFF THE ROAD TO LET THEM PASS. IN THE CONFUSION AND STRIFE NOTHING MOVED. ALL THE WORK CAME TO A STANDSTILL AS THEIR WERE NO TRAFFIC COPS IN EGYPT PREPARED FOR SUCH A RUSH HOUR. THE WORK STATIONS BECAME OVER;LOADED WITH UNDELIVERED BRICKS.
IN THE ENSUING CONFUSION, OFFICIALS BEGAN ACCUSING EACH OTHER FOR CAUSING THE CHAOS. ARMED CONFLICT ENSUED AS DIFFERENT LABOR BOSSES
FOUGHT AMONGST EACH OTHER AS WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MESS AND WHO HAD TO CLEAN IT UP!
THIS IS WHAT G-D MEANT-NOW YOU WILL SEE. MOSHE COULD NOT HAVE IMAGINED SUCH A TOTAL CESSATION OF WORK IN SUCH A SHORT WHILE.THE VERY ORDER OF PHARAOH WAS WHAT CAUSED THEIR FIRST BREATH OF FREEDOM IN 94 YEARS!
HOWEVER, THEY WERE NOT YET READY TO HEAR G-D'S WORDS OF COMFORT .
A PERSON IN ANGST CANNOT BE CALMED . THE PEOPLE NEEDED MORE TIME TO REFLECT UPON WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN ORDER TO SEE THAT ALL OF THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF THEIR REDEMPTION!

MOSHE

MOSHE WAS ENTICED BY G-D TO GO ON A MISSION CLOSE TO HIS HEART-TO TAKE HIS BRETHREN OUT OF BONDAGE. YET AFTER 7 DAYS OF G-D'S ENCOURAGEMENT MOSHE IS ADAMANT. HE IS NOT A SPEAKER , SO WOULD G-D PLEASE CHOOSE SOMEONE ELSE FOR THE JOB!
HOW CAN THIS BE ? AFTER ALL, MOSHE RISKED HIS LIFE TO SAVE ONE ISRAELITE! WHY WOULDN'T HE RISK HIS LIFE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE ? THIS IS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT AS G-D HAS CHOSEN HIM AND TOLD MOSHE HE WOULD BE WITH HIM. THIS IS A NO-BRAINER -ASSURED SUCCESS!
SO WHY DOES MOSHE REFUSE? WE MUST LOOK AT G-D'S ORDERS TO MOSHE . GO GATHER THE ELDERS AND SPEAK RESPECTFULLY TO PHARAOH THAT ISRAEL IS MY FIRSTBORN!
IN OTHER WORDS, MOSHE WAS TO TRY AND CONVINCE PHARAOH AND HIS PEOPLE OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF HIS QUEST TO LESSEN THE BURDENS OF THE PEOPLE.
MOSHE HAD GROWN UP IN THE PALACE AND WAS WELL AWARE OF THE EVIL AND CORRUPTION OF THE EGYPTIAN HIGH SOCIETY.THIS TWERP-THE PHARAOH ,THIS NOTHING WHO LIVES IN A WORLD OF SELF DECEPTION -THAT HE IS A MAN-g-d,MOSHE HAS TO RESPECT AND FAWN HONOR TO?
MOSHE SAID TO G-D "IF YOU WANT ME TO BE LIKE MATISYAHU WHO KILLS THE IDOLATER OFFERING A PIG ON G-D'S ALTAR ,I AM YOUR MAN -FOR G-D "I AM A MAN OF ACTION-I CANNOT BECOME A MAN OF WORDS,ESPECIALLY TOWARDS SO PATHETIC A CREATURE AS THIS PHARAOH IS"!
G-D'S ANSWER IS THE SUM TOTAL OF JEWISH FAITH-THE WORD OF G-D IS SPREAD BY THE POWER OF ITS' TRUTH NOT BY THE FIST OR THE SWORD! MOSHE MUST CHANGE HIS NATURE AND CONFORM TO G-D'S METHOD OF WINNING THE RELIGIOUS BATTLES.
THE TORAH IS NOT VINDICATED BY SUICIDE WARRIORS OR CROSS-BEARING MARTYRS.
RATHER , THE TORAH CONVINCES BY THE POWER OF ITS' PRINCIPLES , BY ITS' SIMPLE TRUTHS.
WE ARE TODAY IN A BATTLEFIELD DIFFERENT FROM A THOUSAND YEARS AGO. YES THERE ARE STILL SWORDS AND DEATHS. HOWEVER, THE TRUTH OF TORAS MOSHE WILL BE TRUMPETED BY THOSE WHO SPEAK IN G-D'S NAME FEARLESSLY, WITH RESPECT FOR EACH LISTENER!

LEVI

LEVI WAS REBUKED BY HIS FATHER YET HE IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN APPOINTED BY HIS FATHER TO BE THE ROSH YESHIVAH-HEADMASTER OF THE YESHIVA IN GOSHEN. HOW DOES THIS FLY WITH THE STATEMENT THAT LEVI'S ANGEWR IS CURSED AND THAT HE
SHOULD BE SEPARATED FROM SHIMON AND SCATTERED AMONGST ISRAEL?
WHY WAS LEVI GIVEN THIS APPOINTMENT WHEN THE YISSACHARITES WERE APPARENTLY BETTER SUITED FOR THIS JOB?
WE MUST CONCLUDE THAT ALTHOUGH RAMBAM SAID THAT LEVI WAS APPOINTED BY YAAKOV THAT THE ACTUAL APPOINTMENT WAS SOMETIME LATER. THE POSITION WAS OPEN TO ALL OF THE BROTHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN. IT WAS JUST APPARENT THAT LEVI WOULD DO THE BEST JOB IN THAT POSITION THAT THEY ALL AGREED ON HIS
HEADING OF THE ACADEMY.
HOW DID THIS TAKE PLACE? LEVI DID MUCH SOUL SEARCHING AFTER HIS FATHER'S CRITICISM. IN ACTUALITY IT HAD BEGUN EARLIER AFTER THE SALE OF JOSEPH . HE REVIEWED ALL OF HIS DEEDS AND FOUND THAT ALTHOUGH HE HAD THE BST OF INTENTIONS THE RESULTS WERE LESS THAN STELLAR.
HE EXAMINED HIS NATURE AND FOUND THAT HE HAD AN AFFINITY FOR HELPING ANOTHER FIND HIS WAY. HE WAS A NATURAL COACH WHO CAME ALONG TO SHOW
THE OTHER WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO DO IT.
WHEN SHIMON PLANNED TO ATTACK FOR THE OUTRAGE OF DINAH IT WAS LEVI WHO CAUTIONED AGAINST AN IMMEDIATE ATTACK. IT WAS SHIMON'S TACTIC BUT LEVI'S PERSONALITY THAT CONVINCED SHECHEM OF THEIR SINCERITY. FURTHERMORE IT WAS LEVI'S COURAGE AND INITIATIVE THAT ALLOWED SHIMON TO LEAD THE ATTACK ON SHECHEM.
FROM HIS SELF EXAMINATION AND HIS FATHER'S CRITIQUE HE LEARNED THAT BY BEING CLOSE WITH PEOPLE HE NOT ONLY ENCOURAGED THEM IN THEIR WAYS-HE ALSO IDENTIFIED WITH THEIR PROBLEMS. BY PLACING SOME DISTANCE BETWEEN
HIMSELF AND HIS BROTHERS LEVI COULD MONITOR WHETHER A CAUSE WAS WORTH GETTING INVOLVED IN.
WHEN HE DID GET INVOLVED LEVI WAS A BLESSING . HE WAS LOYAL, FOCUSED AND ENCOURAGED THE OTHER PERSON TO REACH FOR THE MAXIMUM. HE WAS AN IDEAL TEACHER,GUIDE AND TRAINER OF LEADERS. THERFORE , LEVI TOOK YAAKOV'S ADVICE AND CLEARLY BECAME THE HEADMASTER . NOT BECAUSE HE WAS THE GREATEST SCHOLAR BUT BECAUSE HE WAS THE BEST TEACHER AND GUIDE!

shimon

SHIMON COMES FROM THE WORD SHEMA WHICH MEANS LISTEN OR DISCERN. THAT MEANS THAT SHIMON IS CAPABLE OF SENSING OR HEARING THE INTENT OF THE WORDS OR ACTIONS OF THE PERSON . SHIMON READS SITUATIONS WAY BEFORE OTHERS ARE AWARE OF EVEN THE SLIGHTEST DISCOMFITURE.
EVEN THOUGH SEEING ASSESSES INSTANTLY, HEARING REALIZES THE NUANCES AND THE HIDDEN INFLECTIONS. IN BRIEF SHIMON IS FOREVER ANALYZING EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING. HE MAKES PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE , ALWAYS ASKING WHAT YOU MEANT BY THIS OR HOW WAS THIS INTENDED . PERHAPS HE OVER ANALYZES AND
CAN BE PARALYZED BY ALL THE SIDES HE SEES.
AT OTHER TIMES HIS UNDERSTANDING OF THINGS ARE SO CLEAR THAT HE REACTS TO SITUATIONS LONG BEFORE OTHERS DO. OFTEN IN THOSE SITUATIONS HIS ANGER HAS BEEN TRIGGERED AND THE RECIPIENTS OF HIS WRATH ARE SORRY TO HAVE COME NEAR HIM.SUCH IS THE LOT OF OUR BROTHER SHIMON. WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR HIM? GIVE HIM REUVEN'S INSIGHT?IT ISN'T WITHIN HIS NATURE..BECOME OBLIVIOUS TO HIS SURROUNDINGS? HE WOULD THEN FORFEIT A DIVINE GIFT.
WHAT DOES YAAKOV SAY? I WILL DIVIDE AMONGST YAAKOV AND SCATTER THEM AMONGST ISRAEL
YAAKOV IS THE NAME FOR THE SMALL AND ISRAEL FOR THE MATURE OF OUR PEOPLE.
SHIMON'S STRENGTH IS THE ABILITY TO SORT OUT AND ADVISE. HE IS THE ULTIMATE TALENT SCOUT AND THE PERFECT COUNSELLOR FOR THE PUBLIC.HE SEES POTENTIAL IN EVERYONE AND HE FIGURES OUT THE COMPLICATED ISSUES.WERE HE TO DEDICATE HIS ABILITIES TO HELP INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR SEARCH FOR MEANING AND SOLVE THE ISSUES OF THE PUBLIC, SHIMON WOULD BE MOST USEFUL AND GRATIFIED.
INSTEAD SHIMON STAYS IN HIS CLAN AND SURROUNDS HIMSELF IN HIS SHELL OF PRIVACY. HOWEVER, HE REMAINS DISSATISFIED AND FILLED WITH RESENTMENT AT THE INJUSTICES HEAPED UPON HIM. IN THE FUTURE HIS UNDERSTANDING NATURE WILL BE USED TO FORCE HIM INTO TEACHING POSITIONS. HOWEVER, HAD HE FOCUSED ON UTILIZING HIS STRENGTH HE COULD HAVE BECOME EVERY ONE'S ADVISER AND ANALYST.
THE COHEN WOULD HAVE MEANT THE PERSON OF UNDERSTANDING WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADVICE AND PEACE OF MIND.THE TEMPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN A PLACE OF SERENITY AND JOY AS EVERYONE WOULD FIND CLARITY, THIS WAS NOT TO BE.

TRANSFORMING NEGATIVES

WE ARE GIVEN 3 NEGATIVE TRAITS TO OVERCOME-REUVEN IS IMPULSIVE AND REACTS TOO QUICKLY. SHIMON IS TOO ANALYTICAL AND SEES NEGATIVES,WHILE LEVI SEEMS TO GET ALONG WITH EVEN VIOLENT PEOPLE AND JOIN IN THE FRAY.
ONE MIGHT THINK LEARN TO COUNT TO 10,OR LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP. FOR REUVEN.
THIS DOESN'T WORK FOR REUVEN FOR HE IS NOT EQUIPPED TO ANALYZE THINGS. RATHER HE HAS QUICK INTUITIVE ASSESSMENT. WHEN HE BECOMES REFLECTIVE HE BECOMES AN INEFFECTIVE FRIEND.
SET GOALS FOR YOURSELF SO THAT YOU WON'T BE SIDETRACKED-ENGAGE IN STUDY OR GOOD WORKS WOULD BE THE SPATIAL METHOD OF RISING ABOVE THE NEGATIVE.
HOWEVER, LEARNING TO FIND THE NEEDY AND ASSISTING THEM WOULD TAKE THIS
OBSERVE AND REACT IMPULSE AND FIX A WORLD! THE NEGATIVE IS HARNESSED
AND TRANSFORMED!
SUCH A PERSON WOULD BE TOO BUSY DOING GOOD WORKS TO BE ABLE TO HOLD DOWN A POSITION OF OFFICE AS THE NEEDS OF THE POOR , THE INFIRMED AND DESPONDENT REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
HAD REUVEN DONE THIS HE MIGHT HAVE BECOME THE COHEN WHO IS ALWAYS THERE TO HELP. THE SERVICE IN THE TEMPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SOCIETY CENTERED.
REUVEN DIDN'T. HE TRIED BECOMING CONTEMPLATIVE ALL THE WHILE SUBCONSCIOUSLY AWARE OF OTHERS' GREATNESS AND BECOMING JEALOUS.
THEY WILL SIDE WITH KORACH IN FIGHTING MOSHE'S AUTHORITY. THE REASON THEY DO SO IS THAT THEY STILL LEAD WITH THEIR BIG EYES AND CANNOT ACCEPT SOMEONE BEING GREATER THAN THEY...

CURSE=BLESSING!?

THE PORTION CALLED VAYECHI=YAAKOV LIVED, HAS WITHIN IT THE BLESSINGS YAAKOV=JACOB GAVE HIS CHILDREN.HOWEVER,YAAKOV APPARENTLY REBUKED 3 OF HIS SONS IN THE NARRATIVE. IN THAT CASE HOW CAN THE TORAH SAY THAT HE BLESSED ALL OF THEM WHEN HE REBUKED HIS 3 OLDEST SONS?
RASHI, THE ULTIMATE COMMENTARY SAYS THAT ALL THE TRIBES RECEIVED ALL OF THE BLESSINGS. IN OTHER WORDS THE POWER OF YE-HUDAH WAS ALSO GIVEN TO THE OTHER BROTHERS!
ALTERNATIVELY, YAAKOV GAVE OTHER , UNRECORDED BLESSINGS TO ALL OF THEM EXCLUSIVE OF THE NARRATIVE HERE.
BOTH APPROACHES ARE PROBLEMATIC AS NO INTERNAL EVIDENCE INDICATES THIS IDEA OPENLY.
MY COLLEAGUE AND DEAR FRIEND REB MOSHE POLTER O.B.M. ONCE ASKED ME AS TO HOW ONE CAN VIEW THE WORDS OF REBUKE AS BLESSINGS? WHAT HE WAS ALLUDING TO WAS THE CHASSIDIC MAXIM THAT EVEN THE SO-CALLED CURSES OF THE TORAH ARE REALLY BLESSINGS.
IN THAT CASE WHAT ARE THE BLESSINGS OF THE REBUKES OF REUVEN SIMON AND LEVI?
WHAT IS EVEN MORE AMAZING IS THAT FROM THE 3 ONLY LEVI ROSE TO A POSITION OF LEADERSHIP IN ISRAEL. SIMON AND REUVEN BECAME FOLLOWERS OF OTHERS.
SINCE LEVI HAD BEEN REBUKED AS SIMON WAS, HOW DOES LEVI MERIT BECOMING THE PRIESTLY TRIBE AND THE OTHERS RELEGATED TO LESSER ROLES?
WHILE A CASE MAY BE MADE THAT LEVI HAD PURER MOTIVES THAN DID SIMON IN THEIR ANGRY FORAYS,STILL IT DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR LEVI BECOMING A CHIEF TRIBE,ONE OF THE 2 MOST IMPORTANT.
THE ANSWER LIES IN THE CONCEPT THAT THE REBUKE IS THE BLESSING! NOT THAT GETTING REBUKE BRINGS BLESSINGS. RATHER THE REBUKE ITSELF IS A BLESSING.
YAAKOV SAYS THAT AS A RESULT OF THEIR ANGER" ACHALKEYM BEYAAKOV VEAFITZAYM BEYISROEL-I WILL DIVIDE THEM WITHIN JACOB AND SCATTER THEM AMONGST ISRAEL"
BY ITSELF THIS IS NOT A CURSE AT ALL. RATHER IT INDICATES THAT THE REBUKED SON WOULD BE BETTER OFF ALONE AND SCATTERED FROM OTHERS.THIS COULD BE IN BOTH WAYS ,GOOD AS WELL AS BAD.
LEVI REALIZED THAT HIS FATHER HAD MERELY LAID OUT HIS DESTINY-TO BE SEPARATE FROM OTHERS. THIS COULD BE GOOD IF HE APPLIED HIMSELF INTO BECOMING A HOLY MAN. THEN HE WOULD BE SEPARATE ,BUT FOR GOOD REASON.
IN OTHER WORDS, LEVI DID SOMETHING ABOUT HIS SORRY STATE AND DIDN'T WALLOW IN SELF PITY.
HE SET OUT TO MAKE A MAN OUT OF HIMSELF MAKING THE NEGATIVE INTO A POSITIVE ATTRIBUTE.SIMON CONTINUED TO SULK IN THE REPRIMAND OF HIS FATHER. AS A RESULT HE REMAINED UNREFINED , CLINGING ONLY TO THE POTENTIAL THAT HAUNTS UNFULFILLED DREAMERS.
HAD SIMON TAKEN A CUE FROM LEVI, THE TORAH WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN THROUGH HIS DESCENDANTS INSTEAD.
THIS IS AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE NEGATIVE BECOMING A VIRTUE, UTILIZING THE REBUKE TO TRANSFORM IT INTO PURE BLESSING.
THIS IS WHAT IS MEANT THAT YAAKOV BLESSED THEM. HIS REBUKE WAS A BLESSING-BUT ONLY FOR THOSE WHO WANTED TO LISTEN!

YOSEF AND YEHUDAH-HEAVEN AND EARTH

MUCH INK AND THOUGHT HAS BEEN DEVOTED TO ANALYZING YEHUDA'S CONFRONTATION OF YOSEF. YOSEF WAS VICEROY OF THE GREATEST POWER ON EARTH. DUE TO THE DEVASTATION WROUGHT BY THE WORLD-WIDE FAMINE,PHARAOH PLACED ABSOLUTE POWER IN YOSEF'S HANDS IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH THIS EMERGENCY. IN EFFECT, YOSEF WAS THE MOST POWERFUL MAN IN THE SUPERPOWER OF THEIR TIMES.
YEHUDAH WAS TAKING ON , IN HIS MIND ,A NAPOLEON OR EVEN A GENGHIS KHAN
AND NOT BACKING DOWN.WITH WHAT STRENGTH WAS YEHUDAH ABLE TO STAND UP TO THE MIGHTIEST MAN OF HIS TIME? WHAT ALLOWED HIM TO BE SUPERIOR TO HIS SIBLINGS?IN FACT WHAT MADE HIM ULTIMATELY A BETTER MAN THAN YOSEF?
WE ALL HAVE IMAGES OF OURSELVES VIS A VIS OUR FAMILIES ,OUR SOCIETY ,OUR POSITION IN LIFE. YEHUDAH HAD RANK. HE WAS A MAN OF GREAT PHYSICAL PROWESS AS WELL AS JUDICIOUS INSIGHT. HE WAS GIVEN THE POSITION OF JUDGE WHEREVER HE WENT,AMONGST HIS BROTHERS AND IN CANAAN WHERE HE SETTLED.
IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT THAT A MAN IS CAUGHT HAVING AN EXTRA-MARITAL AFFAIR AFTER PROMOTING FAMILY VALUES FOR A LIFETIME! WHAT AN EMBARRASSMENT. HE WOULD BE DISCREDITED. IF HE WERE A MINISTER HE WOULD BE DISBARRED.
NOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF HE COULD HUSH IT UP, AS THE WOMAN INVOLVED WORSHIPPED HIM AND WOULD GLADLY DIE IN ORDER TO INSURE HIS REPUTATION.
WHAT WOULD THE REACTION OF MOST MEN BE?
EVEN IF THEY COULD NOT CAUSE OTHERS TO HAVE PAIN, THEY WOULD HAVE RESIGNED AND LEFT THE SCENE. OR WORSE , THEY WOULD HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE POOR , STARLIT GROUPIE WILLING TO PROTECT THE MASTER.
TO STOP AND TAKE TOTAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE FACE OF HUMILIATION WOULD BE THE ROUTE OF THE FEW, THE TRULY STRONG OF PERSON.
IT TAKES A GREAT MAN TO BE COURAGEOUS ENOUGH AND ADMIT GUILT , EVEN WHEN ONE CAN DENY OR FINAGLE OUT OF THE CONSEQUENCES.
THIS WAS YEHUDAH'S POWER. HE NEVER TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE WEAK TO COVER UP FOR HIMSELF. NOTWITHSTANDING HIS POSITION AND THE DERISION AN ADMISSION WOULD BRING, HE FACED UP TO THE MUSIC OF CHASTISEMENT AND BEING DEFROCKED.
FOR THERE IS A FAR GREATER FULFILLMENT IN THE MAN WHO CAN CHANGE HIMSELF
THAN THERE IS FOR THE FUNCTION OF PROFESSIONAL "MACHER".TAKING RESPONSIBILITY NO MATTER THE RESULTS REFLECTS ON THE TRUE MEASURE OF A MAN. IT MEANS THAT THIS MAN IS INCORRUPTIBLE , FOR ONE WHO ADMITS BLAME
IS NEVER A SLAVE TO ONE'S IMAGE OR ROLE IN SOCIETY.
AS GREAT AS YOSEF WAS HE WAS NOT GREATER THAN HIS POSITION. ONLY YEHUDAH
DEMONSTRATED THAT HE COULD OVERCOME HIS OWN ASPIRATIONS FOR THE SAKE OF TRUTH.
ULTIMATELY THE MOSHIACH COMES FROM YEHUDAH , NOT YOSEF. THAT IS BECAUSE MESSIAH WILL BRING EVERY MAN TO DO TESHUVAH- CHANGE. WE WILL FOLLOW MESSIAH WHO WILL DEMONSTRATE THAT IT BETTER TO BE TRUE THAN TO BE SUCCESSFUL . YOSEF WAS SUCCESSFUL , YEHUDAH FACED THE TRUTH. YEHUDAH WINS!

YOSEF-ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE
MUCH HAS BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT THE ENORMOUS HOLINESS OF YOSEF AND HIS UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR WITH HIS BROTHERS,INDICATING THE ABILITY TO FORGIVE AND FORGET. MIDRASHIC LITERATURE ABOUNDS EXTOLLING YOSEF’S VIRTUES. WE HAVE HERE THE IMAGE OF A LAMEDVOVNIK- A SECRET SAINT WHO LIVES NORMALLY WHILE HOLDING ON TO A HIGHER STANDARD OF LIFE-CODE.
ALTHOUGH THIS IS THE NORMATIVE APPROACH, I WISH TO LOOK AT YOSEF WITH DIFFERENT EYES.AS MENTIONED IN THE INTRODUCTION OF HIS WORK OHR HACHAYIM , REB CHAIM BEN ATTAR STATES THAT THE READER IS ENCOURAGED TO INTERPRET THE TORAH AS HE SEES IT
AS LONG AS NO HALACHA IS CHANGED IN THE PROCESS.
IN THAT CASE I WISH TO FOCUS UPON TWO ELEMENTS THAT ARE PUZZLING: 1-YOSEF NEVER WRITES HIS FATHER OR BOTHERS TO NOTIFY YAKOV THAT HE IS STILL ALIVE.ALTHOUGH THE MIDRASHEY CHAZAL FILL PAGES WITH THE EXPLANATION THAT THE BROTHERS HAD ENTERED INTO A PACT WITH G-D THAT NO ONE WAS TO REVEAL WHAT ACTUALLY HAD HAPPENED . THEREFORE SINCE G-D WAS ENJOPINED FROM REVEALING YOSEF’S WHEREABOUTS SO WAS YOSEF. 2-YOSEF CALLS HIS SONS NAMES BASED UPON TWO SEPARATE EXPERIENCES; a)G-D HAS HELPED HIM FORGOT HIS TROUBLES AND HIS FAMILY AND b) G-D HAS MADE HIM SUCCESSFUL IN THE LAND OF HIS PAINFUL SLAVERY.
WHEN MOSHE NAMES HIS SONS HE STATES FOR I WAS A STRANGER IN A FOREIGN LAND,MEANING THAT HE LONGED TO BE WITH HIS BRETHREN IN EGYPT.
YOSEF EXPRESSES NO SUCH LONGING.
WHILE ACCORDING TO THE TRADITIONAL PAINTING OF THESE
EVENTS YOSEF WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT HIS FAMILY VIA THIS OATH AND THAT IS WHY HE HAD TO MAKE EGYPT HIS HOME , THE VERSES THEMSELVES DO NOT EXPRESS OR CONVEY THIS IMPRESSION.
THEREFORE , I CAN OPINE THAT INDEED YOSEF HAD FORGOTTEN HIS FAMILY. HE BLAMED HIS FATHER’S EXCESSIVE DOTING FOR HIS CONFLICT WITH HIS BROTHERS AND SUBSEQUENT ALIENATION. HE THEREFORE WANTED NO PART OF HIS FATHER’S TRADITIONS. HE DECIDED TO SUCCEED IN EGYPT AND NEVER LOOK BACK. THIS HE WAS ABLE TO DO UNTIL ONE DAY THE BROTHERS ARE ALL STARING AT HIM WITHOUT REALIZING WHO THEY ARE STARING AT!
YOSEF IS FILLED WITH BOTH RAGE AND LOVE FOR HIS FAMILY. STRANGE, HE HAD BEEN STEWING FOR 22 YEARS AT HIS BROTHERS SELLING HIM LIKE A PIECE OF FURNITURE. NOW, FACE TO FACE WITH THEM HE FOUGHT BACK HIS NATURAL LOVE TO JOIN THEM.
INSTEAD, HE TOYS WITH THEM ,NOT BEING ABLE TO PUNISH THEM OR FORGIVE THEM. HE VACILLATES BETWEEN RAGE AND LOVE FROM THAT MOMENT ON. HOWEVER, HE EMBARKS ON A PROGRAM TO BRING THEM GRIEF FROM FRUSTRATION
AND ANXIETY.
IN THE END ,HOWEVER,HE RELENTS AND COMES BACK HOME ,SO TO SPEAK. WHAT CHANGED YOSEF AND TURNED HIM AROUND? THE SELF SACRIFICE YEHUDAH DISPLAYS ON BEHALF OF PROTECTING HIS LITTLE BROTHER. THE CHANGE FROM YEHUDAH’S CAVALIER ATTITUDE TOWARD THE FAVORITE SON-THEN YOSEF NOW BINYOMIN, INTO ONE OF CONCERN ,COMMITMENT AND SACRIFICE , CONVINCED YOSEF THAT HIS BROTHERS HAD TRULY REFORMED AND SO SHOULD HE!
IN OUR TIMES THE JEWS WHO PRECEDED US GREENERS AND HAD ASSIMILATED , WERE EMINENTLY SUCCESSFUL. THEY
LOOKED ON WITH MIXED EMOTIONS AS THEIR PIOUS BROTHERS REACHED THESE SHORES. THEY WERE SURE THAT THE ONLY ROUTE FOR THEM WAS ASSIMILATION JUST AS THEY HAD DONE. THEY MOCKED THE PIETY AND SENSELESS WORSHIP OF THEIR TRADITIONS. ONLY UPON SEEING THE SELF-SACRIFICE OF THE GREENHORN YEHUDAHS OF THE WORLD WILL AMERICAN JEWRY RETURN TO ITS’ ROOTS!
THE REASON BEING IS THAT THE SECULAR LEADERS ARE ALSO MEN OF PRINCIPLE AND ETHICS WITHOUT THE REVERENT PIETY OF THEIR FOREBEARS. THEY FEEL SUPERIOR WITH THEIR WORLD VIEW OF THE NEED FOR TIKKUN OLAM,PREFERRING DARFUR TO THE TALMUD.
BELITTLING THEM WILL ONLY FURTHER ALIENATE THEM. ONLY BY THE EXAMPLE OF THE LUBAVITCHER REBBE ,WHO ACCEPTED ALL COMERS, CAN WE HOPE TO PERSUADE OUR MODERN YOSEFS TO COME BACK TO OUR FATHER!-----------------------------------------------------Rabbi Chaim Moshe Bergstein

DREAMS DREAMS

THE LAST TWO TORAH PORTIONS CENTER ON THE PROPHETIC NATURE OF DREAMS.
THE TALMUD BEROCHOS STATES THAT WE DREAM ABOUT MATTERS THAT WE THINK ABOUT DURING THE DAY. IN THAT CASE WHY WOULD WE ATTRIBUTE PROPHETIC STATUS TO MATTERS OF WHICH OUR MIND HAS BEEN OCCUPIED WITH?
WE MIGHT ANSWER THAT IF WE DREAM ABOUT MATTERS THAT WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT , THEN THIS INDICATES POSSIBLE PROPHECIES.
PHARAOH DREAMS ABOUT FAT COWS BEING SWALLOWED BY BY EMACIATED COWS . THEN HE DREAMS ABOUT FULL EARS OF GRAIN BEING SWALLOWED BY EMPTY EARS.
THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. NOR DID HE THINK ABOUT THIS BEFORE.
THE ONLY QUESTION ABOUT THIS WHOLE MATTER IS WHY WOULD HE BELIEVE JOSEPH'S INTERPRETATION AND RIGHT THERE AND THEN APPOINT HIM TO THE HIGHEST POSITION IN THE LAND?
PHARAOH HIMSELF WAS PSYCHIC. HE SENSED THE POWERS OF PEOPLE . HE TESTED
JOSEPH'S ABILITIES TO SOLVE TRUTHS BY DELIBERATELY CONCEALING INFORMATION FROM HIM. WHEN JOSEPH NOT ONLY SHOWED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO PENETRATE PHARAOH'S DECEIT WITHOUT EMBARRASSING PHARAOH, HE RECOGNIZED A MAN OF GREAT PERSONAL STRENGTHS UNLIKE ANY MAN HE HAD EVER ENCOUNTERED. HE ALSO KNEW THAT JOESPH WOULD BE FAITHFUL AS JOSEPH DID NOT DIVULGE ANY OF PHARAOH'S MACHINATIONS . WITH A STRAIGHT FACE HE ANSWERED THE MIGHTY KING RESPECTFULLY.
THIS WAS A MAN OF CONVICTION , STRENGTH AND INTELLIGENCE AS WELL AS HIGHLY ETHICAL AS WELL AS LOYAL. THIS COMBINATION DID NOT EXIST AMONGST HIS ADVISERS . SINCE THE MATTERS JOSEPH REVEALED WERE OF IMMEDIATE CONCERN AND NOT A SECOND SHOULD BE WASTED,PHARAOH HIRED JOSEPH ON THE SPOT. IN THIS WAY HE WAS ASSURED OF EGYPT'S SUCCESS IN A VERY TUMULTUOUS TIME. THE HIRING OF JOSEPH CATAPULTED EGYPT INTO AN EVEN GREATER FORCE AND EMPIRE THAN EVER BEFORE.