Parshas Vayigash: Sensitivity (5760)

Parshas Vayigash: Sensitivity (5760)

Something that has always been a great puzzle, is what was the criterion for Yosef deciding the crucial point of when it was time to stop pulling the strings and tightening the screws on his brothers, which he was obviously doing for a rational, definite purpose.

When the Tribes first came to Egypt, and Yosef confronted them, they attributed their plight to the wrong they had afflicted upon him.  It wasn’t the basic decision to harm Yosef that they regretted.  It was only that they hadn’t listened to his pleading.  (Incidentally, the Chumash doesn’t mention that Yosef pleaded to his brothers).

In other words, they still felt completely justified, confident and absolutely convinced of the righteousness of their actions.  Yet, they felt that this terrible, traumatic experience they were going through was a result of what they did to Yosef. Not because it was wrong—they felt they were doing something that was 100% right—yet that were having a severe punishment for doing it.  They weren’t sensitive to the heartbreaking cries of Yosef—some lesson!!!  You have an absolute truth, infallible truth, and infinite truth of truths and nevertheless forget the truth, forget the truth.  Open up your heart and listen to the pleas, open up your heart and listen to the cries, SENSITIVITY.

There is a Chazal in the Medrash Rabba I saw which I never heard quoted.  Klal Yisroel, with the Egyptians chasing them from one side, and the Yam Suf on the other side, chose to jump in to the Yam.  The conventional concept is  Emuna and Bitachon, the faith and the confidence motivated Klal Yisroel to leap into the Yam.  The opinion of the Chazal in this particular Medrash is that Klal Yisroel and Moshe decided to return to Egypt.  Emuna and Bitachon did not justify jumping into the Yam.  But then they said how can we do this to the women and children—how can we disappoint their anticipation of freedom, of leaving slavery.  How can we cause them such anguish?  Idealism, the truth, says—return—don’t jump in.  It is wrong and reckless but how can we break the hearts of the women and children?  …………….

“Vilo Yachol Yosef Lahisapek”—Yosef was bursting with emotion.  Yosef’s dealings with his brothers were obviously for a definite purpose but his sensitivity told him that this was the time to reveal himself.

The essence of the Will of HaShem is having sensitivity to one’s fellow man.