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Many commentators struggle with the implication of the phrase, "Yosef will put his hand on your eyes." The Rashbam understands that Yosef would take care of all of Yaakov’s needs. Ibn Ezra goes in the direction that Yosef would stay with him until Yaakov’s death, at which time he would cover Yaakov’s eyes, as is customary. According to the latter commentary, it is connected to the matter of leaving Egypt, which also occurred only after death. According to both explanations, the order of the sentence’s components is problematic, as the matter of Yosef’s hands took place before Yaakov left Egypt.
We find a totally different approach to this concept in Rav Meir Simcha’s work, Meshech Chochma. The covering of the eyes was an assurance that Yaakov need not and should not concern himself with a theological investigation as to the reason that he had to go down to Egypt. The reason, he was told, was similar to the fact that Yosef had to suffer in a manner that was hard to understand at the time in order that he would make it to Egypt, be a ruler, and publicize correct theologies.
According to the Meshech Chochma, the migration to and from Egypt that accompanied the separation from Yosef was something that had a very special purpose that was hidden for quite some time. With Yosef’s help and with that of the subsequent migration of his brothers and their families, a major step was taken in the effort to "fix the world in the dominion of Hashem." Yosef, viceroy to Pharaoh, tried to create a monotheistic revolution in the idolatrous Egypt and publicize correct theologies. If the matter of Yosef’s mission had only been known earlier, then a lot of wonders would have been clarified.
The p’sukim in Tehillim (105: 17-22) actually corroborate this thesis very strongly. "He sent before them [Egypt] a man; Yosef was sold as a slave. They oppressed his leg with shackles; iron went to his soul. Until the time that His word came, the word of Hashem strengthened him. He sent a king and untied him; the ruler of nations opened his shackles. He made him a master in his house and one with dominion over all of his possessions. To incarcerate his officers at will, and his elders he would make wise." Yosef’s mission was to bring an improvement in the spiritual approach through his impact on the elite of the superpower’s leadership.
It is important to remember these days, when we think the whole world is against us, that the final goal is to unite humanity around the idea of belief in One G-d, with the center of this theological movement being in Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people.
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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.
