This Week In The Torah



Parsha Vayigash Bereishis/Genesis Ch.44/18-47/27

Customs of the Patriarchs
by Rabbi Yechezkel Fox

When Pharaoh heard that Yosef and his brothers had been reunited, he supplied them with his own personal wagons to transport their father and families to join them in Egypt (see Ch.45/19).

In verse 41/1, when Yaakov sets off, it says: So Yisrael set out with all that he had and he came to Beer-sheba where he slaughtered sacrifices to the G-d of his father Yitzchak.

There is no mention yet that Yaakov travelled in the wagons of Pharaoh. Only in verse 5 does it say: So Yaakov arose from Beer-sheba; the sons of Yisrael transported Yaakov their father, and their young children and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to transport him.

It seems that only from Beer-sheba onwards did Yaakov make use of Pharaoh's wagons. Why didn't he use them earlier?

The answer is that when Yaakov set off, he could not be sure that G-d would give him permission to travel to Egypt (see Ch.26/2, where Yitzchak was refused an exit visa). Since Pharaoh's wagons were sent for the exclusive purpose of transporting him to Egypt, he refrained from getting any benefit from them until G-d told him that he could indeed go there. Had Yaakov traveled in them before that, he would have considered himself guilty of stealing.

Sources: Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Diskin

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Love On A Higher Level

Yosef harnessed his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen; and he appeared to him, fell on his neck and wept on his neck excessively. Ch.46/29

Emotions were running high for Yosef. Seperated from his father for twenty-two years, he openly wept and wept. But what about Yaakov? What were his feelings at seeing his son alive after all this time? Rashi says: But Yaakov did not fall on Yosef's neck, nor did he kiss him. Our Sages say that he was reciting Shema (see Deut.Ch.6/4).

How could it be that Yaakov, now holding his back-from-the-dead son in his arms, could respond with so little emotion and just carry on reciting his daily prayers?

The recitation of Shema is a very intimate time. It is when we focus our emotion of love towards G-d. By declaring His oneness, we are acknowledging that everything emanates from Him. We owe everything to Him---all of life. We use this special mitzva to re-dedicate our lives to Him by channelling this love into action (see ibid v.7).

At the time of Yaakov's reunification with Yosef, Yaakov's emotions of love and joy were certainly running high. But instead of just savoring the moment, Yaakov directed his emotions towards G-d. He used this unique opportunity to dedicate himself to serving G-d on a higher level

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What Yosef Was Thinking

Yosef harnessed his chariot and went to meet Yisrael his father, to Goshen; and he appeared to him , fell on his neck, and he wept on his neck excessively. Ch.46/29

Rashi comments: Yosef appeared to his father. What does Rashi mean by this cryptic comment? What is he adding to what we already know from the verse itself?

It is human nature that after being separated from one's father for many years, the son would be yearning for the moment when he would see him once again. And when that moment would arrive, he would be filled with keen anticipation for the longed-for reunion.

However, this was not the case with Yoseph. Although he certainly yearned to see his father, whom he had missed terribly for twenty-two years, all of his thoughts were concentrated, as Rashi says, on "appearing before his father." Yosef's only thought was to make him happy, and he was not thinking of his own joy at all.

Sources Rabbi Naftoli Trop





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