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