This week’s Parshah contains the emotional conclusion of the saga of Yosef and his brothers; after 22 years of separation and trauma, Yosef, having suffered as a slave and prisoner, and then meriting to rise to be second in command of all of Egypt, finally reveals himself to his family. Among a host of other questions that one must ask throughout this gripping story, the commentaries grapple with a core issue that is not easily explainable-Yosef, once he became viceroy of ancient Egypt, certainly should have had the wherewithal to convey to his father Yaakov that he was alive and well! Why did he not elect to do so? Certainly, one can posit various calculations that are clearly divinely ordained-Yaakov had spent 22 years away from his parents, and measure for measure, Yosef would end up being separated from Yaakov for 22 years, as well-but that cannot serve as a rationalization for Yosef’s actions; while reflective of divine providence, Yosef’s independent thought process would not have allowed for deliberate separation merely to try and correlate his estrangement from Yaakov with Yaakov’s own separation from his parents.
The Ohr Chaim {Bereishit 45’ 26’} raises this crucial dilemma, and offers, that while Yosef understood that his father was in mourning and grief stricken over his assumed loss of his precious son Yosef, that still did not allow Yosef to go ahead and out his brothers to their father-an act that would cause great shame to his brothers. As the Gemara [Bava Metzia 59] states, a person should rather jump into a flaming oven rather than embarrass their fellow; hence, the severe shame that would have been the lot of the Shevatim had the matter been brought to the attention of Yaakov against the will of the Shevatim prevented Yosef from revealing to Yaakov everything that had occurred.
This awesome and astounding approach should obligate us all to realize the extent with which we must treat our fellow-Yosef had been nearly killed, sold as a slave, and spent years in an Egyptian dungeon because of his brothers’ aspersions; his father, Yaakov, was grieving and suffering for 22 years-and yet, despite all of the above, Yosef understood that it is still more worthwhile not to embarrass his brothers, and reveal himself to Yaakov. How much more so, in our day to day interactions, must we seek to embrace and cherish each other.
Dedicated in memory of all those who have perished and sacrificed for Am Yisrael.
Have a Great Shabbat!