SILENT PURITY CAN BE HEARD FROM AFAR
Excerpted from a talk from Rabbi Aharon Lopiansky
In this week’s Parsha, Vayechi, Yaakov gathers his 12 sons around him as he gives them their respective blessings. Each blessing reflects their unique qualities and responsibilities. In last week’s Parsha the Midrash identifies Yehudah and Yosef as the two kings of our people. Naturally, their qualities of kingship are reflected in the blessings that Yaakov bestowed upon them. Let us take note of the remarkable distinction between the blessings they received. Regarding Yehudah, Yaakov says that “Your brothers shall submit to you… your father’s sons shall bow to you.” This certainly draws a picture of a sovereign that is accepted by his people. Regarding Yosef however, Yaakov says “A charming son is Yosef, the girls climbed heights to gaze. His brother embittered him and became antagonists…From there he shepherded the stone of Israel.”
How stark the distinction is between these blessings. Yosef’s brothers relate to him as antagonists and they embitter him. How do we understand the nature of Yosef’s kingship? Further-more we need to appreciate what Yaakov wishes to impart by referencing the fact that the young women in Egypt gazed at Yosef’s beauty as he was paraded through the streets when he was placed in royalty. Why such emphasis on Yosef’s beauty?
Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe, one of the great Jewish thinkers of recent past was born in Germany in the home of Reform Jews. The values of Torah and her greatness were foreign to him. As a young man he was introduced to the Mirer Yeshiva in Europe where he encountered Rabbi Yeruchem Levovits, the Mashgiach of the Mirer Yeshiva. Although Reb Yeruchem passed away before Rabbi Shlomo could benefit from him, nevertheless, Reb Shlomo’s life was changed by the impression Reb Yeruchem made on him. Reb Shlomo was able to discern in the conduct and the life of Reb Yeurchem what it meant to be in total control of oneself and to be given over to Torah in the purest form. Reb Yeruchem’s every movement and every word was carefully calculated to be in sync with the expectations of the Torah. Without any real communication; just the observation of his greatness, Reb Yeruchem was able to influence young Shlomo Wolbe to become the man who influenced thousands upon thousands with his genius.
The purpose of Yaakov’s mentioning Yosef’s beauty was to underscore Yosef’s manner of influence. Yosef’s purity influenced without his say-ing anything. Just gazing at him and appreciating who he was and what he represented inspired and moved those who followed him. It is for this reason that Yaakov emphasized Yosef’s beauty and how the girls climbed to gaze. His leadership differed greatly from Yehudah’s influ-ence. Yehudah was accepted by his brothers. They listened to what he had to say. His words carried weight because they saw him as a peer to whom they related as equals and hence his words were heard. The Sag-es refer to Yehudah’s relationship with Tamar as a point of greatness from which he raised himself by admitting to his mistake. Yehudah’s influence was specifically because was able to pick himself up from mistakes. For this reason his brothers related to him and accepted his words.
Yosef, on the other hand, was far above his brothers. He made no mistakes. They could not relate to him as a peer. His mode of influence was from the distance. Before they recognized his greatness the distance between them was the cause of their hatred. But once they recog-nized his beauty and purity he inspired them without words. His silent purity was heard from the distance.
In a similar vein, Rabbi Wolbe named his prized work “Alei Shur” from this verse, “the girls climbed heights to gaze”. He explained that Reb Yeruchem influenced him just from the beauty that Reb Shlomo gazed at from a distance.
There are times when we encounter a person who seems so far above the normal or hear an inspiring vort that comes from a far away place, a place that is so far above us and it makes an impression on us. Although it is way above us, we can still use it as a direction to strive for.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind