Rabbis' Blog

The dramatic moment arrived. Yosef managed to manipulate his brothers into a scenario reminiscent of his tragic sale 22 years earlier. Posing as a tyrannical Egyptian viceroy demanding to keep the youngest brother as a slave, he assured them that there would be no problems henceforth and they should return home in peace.

Led by Yehudah, the brothers heroically prepared to battle the entire country to save their brother Binyamin from slavery and a painful separation from Yaakov. Their repentance for their previous error was complete and Yosef pulled the curtains on the show by revealing his real identity to them. “I am Yosef! Is my father still alive?” he exclaimed tearfully.

Before they could overcome their shock and shame, he urged them to view the past in a positive light and quickly share the good news with Yaakov that he is still alive. Tell him to “come down to me; do not tarry!”

One can easily appreciate Yosef’s concern for his father and his fervent wish that he be liberated from his unbearable suffering as quickly as possible. If so, why did he not send a message to his father earlier about his whereabouts? He had been viceroy of Egypt for nine years by now, was it so difficult to send a message? If it could wait nine years, what was the rush now?

Even more perplexing is the fact that Yosef did not immediately travel to his father in person so that the reunion occur as early as possible.

Yosef explained to his brothers that the tragic circumstances that brought him to Egypt were part of a divine plan so that he rise to power in Egypt. He had a divine mission to sustain all of civilization during the terrible famine by presiding over the sale of provisions that had been stored during the seven years of plenty. As long as the world was coming to Egypt for food, Yosef had the divine obligation to remain there to execute his duties.

He also understood that the painful separation from his father was Divine providence, as a reflection of the twenty-two years Yaakov was away from his father Yitzchak. Now that the twenty-two years were over, there was no need for Yaakov to mourn a moment longer.

The lessons of this story resonate today. For close to 2,000 years we are missing the divine reality of a functioning Holy Temple in which G-d’s presence is revealed in a permanent way. It is imperative to know two things. As long as we are still in Exile, we have a divine mission we cannot forsake. And as soon as the mission is complete, and the time of “separation” has ended, our reality will be transformed immediately - without a moment’s tarry.

Let us get the mission done by increasing our Torah study and Mitzvah observance and we will surely merit the arrival of Moshiach right away!

P.S. Chanukah with Chabad was amazing! Photo albums of the various events will be available online next week. Here are several links about Chanukah in El Paso this year. Enjoy!

El Paso Times: Opinion by Rabbi Levi Greenberg

KVIA Channel 7: Chanukah Interview with Rabbi Levi Greenberg and Menachem Greenberg

El Paso Times: Photos of First Night Menorah Lighting

KTSM Channel 9: Chanukah Playland

El Diario de El Paso: Chanukah Playland

KTEP 88.5: Chanukah Interview with Dennis Woo

Civilization was in the throes of a miserable famine and the ten sons of Yaakov traveled to Egypt to purchase food like everyone else. To their surprise and ultimate chagrin, they were singled out from the multitude of international customers and summoned to appear before the viceroy.

After prostrating themselves in the presence of royalty the viceroy inquired after their families in Canaan. The interview took on an intimate nature and the closest guarded secrets of the family were divulged. Unwittingly they revealed that there was a younger brother at home and a brother that went missing years before.

To their astonishment and great distress, the viceroy accused them of espionage and arrested them on the spot. He presented them with an impossible ultimatum: To prove their innocence, nine of them would be held hostage until their youngest brother was brought to Egypt.

The brothers faced a libel of epic proportions. Nothing of their behavior warranted special attention, let alone such a preposterous accusation and the idea that Binyamin coming to Egypt would prove their innocence seemed downright silly. They were also cognizant of the fact that their grandparents Avraham and Sarah faced a similar challenge in Egypt when they arrived there during a famine.

Nevertheless, they did not attribute their troubles to the pathetic penchant of Egyptian monarchs to harass Hebrews. Rather, they understood that everything is orchestrated by G-d and surely their current problems were the result of an error that needed correction. A thorough soul searching determined that the tragic sale of Yosef that had occurred 21 years earlier was the single sin they had yet to correct.

They said to one another, “We are indeed guilty regarding our brother, for we saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we did not listen. That is why this misfortune has come upon us.” (Genesis 42:21) Their verbal declaration of guilt was the crucial process of Teshuvah (repentance) that paved the way for their salvation.

Tyrannical accusations and persecution are beside the point. The relationship with the One pulling the strings from Above makes all the difference.

The Maccabees at the time of the Chanukah story understood this same truth. The Assyrian Greek empire did not successfully conquer Israel by dint of their military prowess - and training an army comparable in size and strength would accomplish nothing. The terrible oppression of the time was a reflection of a divine reality and overcoming the enemy would be the result of genuine self-sacrifice.

We celebrate the victory of the few over the many and the righteous over the wicked, by kindling flames of light and warmth in increasing measure. It is crucial to consistently grow in our Torah study and Mitzvah observance, thus introducing more divine light to the world. By focusing on the true dynamics of reality we experience miracles in our personal lives and in the world at large.

Yosef was estranged from his brothers for several reasons but nothing agitated them more than the fact that his dreams foretold his ultimate rise to power and that they would all bow to him. The tensions came to a boiling point when the brothers attempted to kill him and ultimately sold him into slavery.

Thus began a painful saga in the history of Yaakov’s family. Yaakov mourned inconsolably, the brothers were wracked with guilt and Yosef was subjected to a life of servitude, imprisonment and rejection.

Fascinatingly, Yosef himself did not process these terrible events as a punishment or the result of his brothers’ revenge. He understood that this was divinely orchestrated so that he be put in the right place at the right time to do something extraordinary.

This becomes increasingly clear as we follow Yosef during this painful 22 year separation. During his tenure as a slave to Potiphar, a high ranking Egyptian minister, he was promoted to manager of the estate. Yosef continuously attributed his success to G-d, that his pagan Egyptian master was compelled to recognize this truth.

After being falsely accused of immorality and unjustly sentenced to prison, Yosef continued to provide divine inspiration to all. Ultimately he was instated as the viceroy of Egypt, assuming control over the entire country and by extension all civilization.

The greatest expression of Yosef’s firm belief and pristine understanding that his tragic circumstances were part of a greater plan can be found in the first message he tells his brothers during their emotional reunion.

“Do not be sad, and let it not trouble you that you sold me here, for it was to preserve life that G-d sent me before you... You did not send me here, but G-d, and He made me a father to Pharaoh, a lord over all his household, and a ruler over the entire land of Egypt.”

Today, (Thursday, December 7) the 19th of Kislev, marks 219 years since the liberation of Rabbi Schneur Zalman, the founder of Chabad (known as the Alter Rebbe) from Czarist prison. His opponents attempted to destroy the newly established Chabad movement by arranging his arrest on false charges of high treason. Truth prevailed and the Rebbe was miraculously released 53 days later on the 19th of Kislev.

The Alter Rebbe understood that his arrest was the result of a heavenly debate whether Chassidus should be revealed on a large scale. The circumstances of his release were such that the truth of Chassidus was acknowledged by the highest echelons of the gentile government, thus allowing for its dissemination on an unprecedented level. It was all part of the divine plan.

Chassidus is the innermost dimension of Torah which allows us to tap into the strength of our inner selves. By learning it each day, we open our hearts and minds to discover the pathway to redemption for ourselves and the entire world. Lechaim!

Click here to learn more about 19 Kislev.