5-Bullet Friday: Parshas Vayigash

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5-Bullet Friday

This week is Parshas Vayigash! Check out this week's d'var torah here.

Here is this week's 5-Bullet Friday:

• Question I'm pondering (on the parsha): What was the proof? The passuk relates (45:4) that Yosef told his brothers “Come close to me, if you please”. Rashi explains that Yosef showed them his bris millah. What would this prove to the brothers, though? Rashi earlier explained in last week's parsha (41:55) that Pharaoh commanded everyone to listen to Yosef – who told them all to get bris millah! If so, everyone in mitzrayim was circumcised so what would showing the brothers the bris millah prove?

• Concept I am considering: Holding in a Secret. Yosef went quite a while holding in the fact that he was Yosef. Aside from the emotional restraints he probably had to practice, just the fact that he had this secret he was keeping from his brothers was likely difficult. Oftentimes secrets obstruct focus and clarity. Yosef must have felt a tremendous amount of relief not just in being reunited with his family, and not just with seeing his dreams being fulfilled, but in letting out the secret that he held from the entire Mitzrayim and his brothers, finally being able to step out of the act he was putting on.

• Hashkafic idea I'm reflecting on: Day of reckoning. The passuk (45:3) relates that after Yosef revealed himself, the brothers were shocked. The medrash comments “Oy lanu mi'yom ha’din, Oy lanu mi'yom ha’tochacha”. The idea of having to own up to one’s mistakes and “face the music” is a scary thought and something that those who do wrong dread in this world. Whether it is children being caught by their parents, students by teachers, or people by the friends, or citizens by the government, getting in trouble is often shocking and embarrassing. Although it is hard to relate to, this is something that as humans with the responsibility to do the right things in this world and keep the Torah and mitzvos, will have to face ultimately in front of Hashem with regards to our own deeds Think about it: The words of chazal are literally: “Oy lanu mi'yom ha’din, Oy lanu mi'yom ha’tochacha”. Chazal knew quite well that we all do aveiros and all have things that we will be immensely ashamed of in front of the King of the Universe. What are some things that we could do to help with us live each day thinking more about the yom ha’din and yom ha’tochacha to help guide us with the decisions we make?

• Middah on my mind: Anivus (humility). The Gemara in Eiruvin 13b quotes R’ Abba in the name of Shmuel who said that for years and years Beis Hillel and Beis Shammai argued over who the halacha is in accordance with until a bas kol came out and said (famously) “Eilu v’eilu divrei Elokim chaim. However, the halacha is like Beis Hillel”. The Gemara asks the question that if both their opinion are valid, then why ultimately does the halacha follow Beis Hillel? The Gemara answers that Beis Hillel had three core qualities: 1. They were agreeable and patient 2. When they taught halacha, they taught both opinions (theirs and Beis Shammai’s) 3. Moreover, when they taught both opinions they actually prioritized Beis Shammai’s rulings - teaching them before their own. Ironically, the middah of anivus is a core quality of a leader. In fact, one of our greatest leaders - Moshe rabbeinu - was “anav m’kol adam” (the humblest person). Having good middos and following in ratson Hashem is what inspires those around us even if it seems counter-intuitive to us.  

• Part of Tefillah I'm concentrating on: Shema. The passuk (45:29) says that when Yosef was finally reunited with Yaakov, he wept on his neck. Rash there points out that although Yosef cried on Yaakov, Yaakov did not reciprocate. Rashi explains from Chazal that Yaakov used the moment to recite Shema. The obvious question on this is why couldn’t Yaakov catch the earlier or later minyan? He is being reunited with his long lost son who is weeping on his neck and Yaakov picks that moment to be busy, so to speak, with saying Shema? Perhaps the answer is that it was indeed unplanned. Yaakov certainly felt an incredible force of love and longing for his son, but when he felt all these positive emotions, Yaakov channeled it all to declare the Shema to Hashem. This gives insight for us regarding how we should feel when we say Shema. The love of all the good things we have should be channeled to Hashem as we declare Him alone for being the Ruler and Controller of the world and truly develop a love for Hashem with all our heart, soul, and strength.

What's on your mind? 

Have a wonderful Shabbos!

P.S:

• Completely random thought I'm thinking about: Where do we think from? When we imagine where we think from, we imagine that it is from our brain. Our head is our control panel and our brains is where our thoughts and ideas are generated. However, perhaps this is not the case. It is true that there is a correlation between brain activity and thoughts, but could it be that thoughts and ideas are sourced somewhere else and that activity which we see and feel in our brains is just a manifestation and expression of the real source? Challenge: Think about something obvious and question if it is a cause or an effect. The chain of causes and effects of things in general are often complex and unclear how far back the chain really starts.

Have comments or thoughts on this week's bullets? Have other random thoughts on your mind? Send an email to torahparallels@gmail.com. Thank you!