Bs”d
Parshas Vayeshev (5768)
by Mordechai Dolinsky
Amazing! Both this week’s sedra and last week’s deal with brothers wanting to kill. Esav is approaching Yaakov Avinu with an army, filled with hatred, with the intention to destroy and Yaakov successfully difuses this and Esav is filled with love. In our parshas Yosef is approaching his brothers with a good-will mission and is greeted by them with Lechu v’nahargayhu (37:20)—let’s destroy him; filled with hatred which Yosef’s fails to discourage and dispel.
When Yaakov Avinu presents his case to Esav, Rashi (32:6) explains that he had expressed that he had a true appreciation for Esav’s positive traits, and characteristics and was understanding of why Esav was upset with him. This means that despite all the wickedness and negative traits of Esav, Yaakov was able to focus and “bull’s eye” onto his attributes. It appears from the simplicity that it is probable to say that on the basis of this he was able to accomplish that Esav was willing to back down on his agenda and even bring Esav to a disposition of love.
Yosef was able to discern the shortcomings of his brothers and dutifully brought them to the attention of Yaakov Avinu. If our assumption is correct that Yaakov Avinue was successful in achieving the true love of Esav through relating to his positive traits then it would be logical to conclude that Yosef’s failure to achieve the love of his brothers was due to his lack of true love for them achieving by focusing on their positive traits.
Hashem expects of us, together with concept of “Ohavei Hashem sinue rah”—the devoted to Hashem should despise evil, at the same time to have a sincere insight and appreciation for the positive characteristics of the evil-doers. Thus, we will be exercising absolute control over them and even bringing them to true love of Hashem, the Torah and ourselves.
Have a wonderful week and happy and significant Chanukah.