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The Meshech Chuchma (on Bererishit 30:15) explains that Yosef was telling them why he could not take them as slaves. The halacha that a Jew may not sell himself as a slave to his fellow Jew is based on the pasuk: "They are My slaves." We infer from here that as we are servants to Hashem, we cannot sell ourselves as servants to anyone else (Bava Metzia 10a). Thus, Yosef was saying that since he was not Hashem’s substitute, he had no right to take Hashem’s servants as slaves. According to this explanation, though, it sounds that if not for the halachic problem, Yosef might have taken his brothers as slaves, as his childhood dreams hinted.
Other sources see these words as means of rebuke. Rachel had pleaded with Yaakov to ensure that she bear a child. Yaakov responded with the same phrase: "Am I substitute of Hashem, who withheld from you the fruit of the womb?" The midrash (Bereishit Rabba 71:7) states that Hashem remarked at that time that as a result of Yaakov’s insensitive words, his ten sons would hear the same words from Rachel’s son (Yosef). Clearly then, the midrash saw Yosef’s words as harsh ones, perhaps to a similar degree as follows from the Meshech Chuchma.
We can suggest another explanation of Yosef’s words based on another analysis of Yaakov’s use of the same phrase. Yaakov told Rachel that he could not control if and when she would have a child, as it was part of a Divine plan, which only Hashem knows. As it turns out, the Divine plan had Rachel being a matriarch, just that her children would be born sometime later.
What resulted from Yosef’s "delayed" birth? The Torah tells us that Yosef was a ben zekunim (a child raised in Yaakov’s old age) and gave this as the reason that Yaakov preferred him to his brothers (Bereishit 37:3). This favoritism was the first reason for their jealousy (ibid.:4) which ultimately led to Yosef’s being sold as a slave. Thus, Yosef could have used the same words to hint the following. Yaakov had said that there was a Divine reason that he was born late. It may have been to cause discord, which would cause Yosef to precede his brother’s down to Egypt. Thus the sale itself was part of the Divine plan, and Yosef did not hold his brothers fully responsible for it. As the pasuk continues, while the brothers thought that they were doing something harsh to Yosef, Hashem saw it as a way to save the family from famine.
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
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.
