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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.
Various Rabbis
Various Rabbis including those of of Yeshivat Bet El, such as Rabbi Chaim Katz, Rabbi Binyamin Bamberger and Rabbi Yitzchak Greenblat and others.
Moreshet Shaul Moreshet Shaul: A Crown and its Scepter – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 294-5
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
