YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Vayechi
Yaakov sends Yosef to his brothers
The brothers wish to kill ("send a hand") Yosef, but refrain from such action thanks to Reuven
Pharaoh sends for Yosef to bring him out of prison
Yaakov refuses to send Binyamin
Yosef insists they send Binyamin
Yosef sends his father wagons, filled with food and gifts
Yaakov sees the wagons sent by Yosef – and his spirit is revived
This is seemingly a natural occurrence. However, Yaakov prays to Hashem to ensure the success of the mission (Genesis 43, 14):
"And may the Almighty God grant you compassion before the man, and he will release to you your other brother and Benjamin…"
Subsequently, Yosef teaches us that this mission belongs to Hashem. Only He truly decides about the mission. Yosef emphasizes: "… you did not send me here, but God." Man believes that he is the one who is "sending", but Hashem really is in charge. (Genesis 45, 5/7/8):
"But now do not be sad, and let it not trouble you that you sold me here, for it was to preserve life that God sent me before you."
"And God sent me before you to make for you a remnant in the land, and to preserve [it] for you for a great deliverance."
"And now, you did not send me here, but God, and He made me a father to Pharaoh, a lord over all his household, and a ruler over the entire land of Egypt."
We see in Tehillim that Asaph added the name of Hashem to the name of Yosef, calling him Jehoseph:
"For the conductor, on the gittit, of Asaph." (Tehillim 81, 1)
"As a testimony for Jehoseph, He ordained it, when he went forth over the land of Egypt, [when] I understood a language that I had not known." (Tehillim 81, 6)
This appellation is eminently suited to Yosef. Yosef lives his life with an incredible sense of awareness of Hashem’s Providence. He taught Pharaoh: (Genesis 41, 16): "And Joseph replied to Pharaoh, saying, "Not I; God will give an answer [that will bring] peace to Pharaoh." Yosef taught Am Yisrael that, at the end of the day, the results we see in our world are not only due to human acts or a human mission, but rather to a Divine Mission. Yosef was amazingly always under Divine Providence, and Hashem’s blessings were apparent throughout his life.
Yosef is able to act independently, to act in conjunction with nature and to act within reality. At the same time, he never loses sight of Hashem’s presence and influence in all facets of his life. He is always cognizant of the fact that our mission is a Divine Mission – "you did not send me here, but God!"
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
