SURVIVAL IN THE WILD
As we read this week’s Parsha, Vayigash, the incredible righteousness of Yosef is revealed. To appreciate the depth of his character let us spend a paragraph reviewing what transpired so that we can appreciate Yosef’s reaction.
Yaakov showed favoritism to Yosef by choosing him from the other sons in grooming him to be the leader. As a result, his brothers harbored a deep hatred and jealousy for him. This jealousy moved them to convict Yosef to be sold into eternal slavery. Once a person was enslaved in Egypt there was never a hope of being freed.
Finally, 22 years later when the brothers encounter Yosef, he has the upper hand. Yosef became the Viceroy of Egypt and has free reign to carry out any design he wishes. Nevertheless, when Yosef reveals himself to his brothers he does his utmost to comfort them for what they had done to him. Even after Yaakov and the family moved down to Egypt, Yosef never told his father about the event of his sale. He was ever so cautious to uphold his brothers’ dignity.
From where did Yosef get this strength of character to dismiss this outrageous scandal that was perpetrated against him? We know from his behavior with the brothers that he was not a wimp. He was a strong person and stood behind his beliefs.
Yosef himself tells us from where he was able to forgive them. He told his brothers that although their intentions may have been wrong but HaShem’s plan is what drove these events. How can he hold anything against them for they were but puppets in a grand scheme. Yosef’s unwavering trust in HaShem together with his tremendous humility is what fortified him with that strength.
Perhaps for this reason Yaakov chose Yosef to be the leader. He knew that Yosef’s humility combined with his extraordinary faith in HaShem and his uncompromising sense of morality earned him that lofty position. The question, however, is that we know that the Jewish monarchy belongs to the tribe of Yehuda. If Yehuda is more qualified why did Yaakov choose Yosef?
Perhaps there is a difference between the qualities needed to govern the Jewish people when they are on their Land and in their own environment and when they find themselves in an antagonistic environment which seeks to destroy them.
When our people and our values are not being challenged, the role of the leader is to administer and direct all the public concerns. This includes fighting the wars, collecting taxes, establishing courts and institutions of learning and so on. However, when we find ourselves on foreign soil and we are subjected to a climate that runs contrary to our values and beliefs then we need an additional leader. While we still need the former, nevertheless we must have another leader that can strengthen our people to stand up against these foreign forces.
As we look back at our people’s odyssey through history we face two constant dangers. One danger is the temptation of following the ways of our host country whether it be idolatry or other forms of immorality. The second danger is dealing with intense suffering.
When one is subject to suffering and cannot find reason to justify it, they are in danger of giving up hope and falling into despair. There were stops along our path of exile where we had to deal with both of these dangers and there were stops where we had to deal with only one of these dangers. However, we were never exempt from dealing with at least one of them.
Our father Yaakov understood this and knew that Yehuda was not the leader who could guide his people through these challenges. This was a job for Yosef. In dealing with the first challenge Yosef was the paradigm of moral fortitude. Even at the young age of 17 in the most decadent society all alone, Yosef withstood the greatest challenges.
For dealing with the second challenge of despair, Yosef was again the leader. Yosef had the unwavering trust in the Word of HaShem. He knew without any doubt that whatever HaShem promises will happen. No matter how contrary the events and circumstances seem to be going, he knew that everything was by His design. There was never anything to worry about. The only challenge left to deal with was humiliation with which we are so familiar. Once again, Yosef in his absolute trust and faith in HaShem was able to release his hold on his personal ego.
May HaKadosh baruch Hu grant us that fortitude that we all need to stand up to these challenges.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind