Tag: Vayigash

Parshas Vayigash

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Parshas Vayigash (5773)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

(45:28) Yaakov exultant that Yosef was alive made the decision to go to Mitzrayim to see him. He gathered everything and everybody and set out for the trip. (46:3/4) Yaakov Avinu then goes to Ber Sheva for Hashem’s approval before commencing the actual move to Mitzrayim.

What an awesome lesson of the necessity to constantly seek Daas Torah for all our moves in life. The more we feel, understand and search for the need of the approval of Hashem the more He makes it accessible.

Have a wonderful, meaningful Shabbos.

Parshas Vayigash (5772)

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Parshas Vayigash (5 772)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

It is noteworthy that from the moment that Yosef revealed himself to his brothers (45:3) for the next pesukim we don’t hear a word from them “V’lo yachlu” — the brothers were not able to react verbally.

When exposed to the real truth; the real truth–one is shocked. In the event of Klal Yisroel and in our own personal lives things happen. The real absolute truth is so hidden, so far, that when it is finally revealed we are in absolute shock and in silence and awe. If we understand this we would be more objectively aggressive in our search for the real truth.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Parshas Vayigash (5771)

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Parshas Vayigash (5771)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

Yehuda’s speech to Yosef was clear, to the point, crystallizing the truth and devarim yotzim min halev.

The idea now is to hold on to the lesson of Chanukah that Hashem revealed Himself through the miracle of the lights that He is here and in control; something which He rarely demonstrates.  Klal Yisroel earned this through their great commitment to Him and to the Torah.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Parshas Vayigash (5769)

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Parshas Vayigash (5769)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

Whatever the specific right words were to signal to Yosef that the special time had arrived for his revealing himself, Yehuda certainly said them.  The great point is Siyatta Dishmaya.   We must always ask Hashem for sittaya Dishmaya for all our endeavors, for everything.  Le’ts pray for Klal Yisroel on all the fronts.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Parshas Vayigash (57567)

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Parshas Vayigash (57567)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

Yosef degraded his father and brothers by declaring them shepherds which were looked down upon and despised by the Egyptians for the purpose for them to settle in Goshen where they would be isolated from the Egyptian culture.  He was thus setting the standards and mindset of a model structure for their galus existence.

For us presently as the galus progresses this becomes progressively more difficult.  With the situation today being that there are no geographical Torah true oases. How aware we must be that so much of our mentality and way of life is infested and infected with anti Torah ideas, ideals and standards.  We must pray to Hashem for Divine assistance to free us from this and enable us to live a Torah-true life according to His Will.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Parshas Vayigash (5766)

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Parshas Vayigash (5766)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

Regarding Yehuda’s “break-through” speech the Medrash presents an analogy of a deep well of sweet, cool water, inaccessible because of its extreme depth.  Nothing available or imaginable can make the water available in a practical way.   A wise individual takes the initiative and attaches a piece of short rope, then another; he then finds a short string and then another and eventually locates a few narrow shoestrings and reaches the refreshing sweet waters.  He indulges and shares with all.

You have a plan; an inspiration.  It is not crucial to have the availability to see it through to the end.  So many potentially great ideas and accomplishments are lost to this wrong mentality.  Start with what is available at hand, preserve your inspiration and enthusiasm and as you proceed hang on to and grasp all that makes itself available.  You will eventually dance in joy at your success.

Have a wonderful week!

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.

Parshas Vayigash (5765)

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Parshas Vayigash (5765)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

Yehuda’s orderly logically sequenced orientation hit the spot.  First, we have a lesson in how to deal with difficult ordeals; to go step by step, logically and rationally.  The point that hit home was that Yosef was convinced that the brothers’ radical actions towards him were motivated by the fact that he stemmed from Rochel.  By Yehuda showing the brothers love and concern for Binyomin he proved this was untrue.  We must always be open to new revelations of the truth.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Parshas Vayigash (5764)

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Parshas Vayigash (5764)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

In our sedra we find one of the most dramatic episodes in history—Yosef’s revelation to his brothers.  We must understand what aspect of Yehuda’s speech signaled Yosef to make this revelation.  There doesn’t seem anything significant in Yehuda’s address that should prompt this.

In his speech Yehuda went through the epitome of simplicity step by step of what had occurred.  As simple as this sounds, it reflects a clarity of the mind and true intellectual control.  This was Yosef’s signal that the time was ripe and right.  The brothers were free at last from the perversion of the mind that prevented them from seeing the truth of the greatness of Yosef and its implications.

Hashem should bless us all with clarity of mind to see the truth.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.