(2010/5771)

After Yaakov passes away and is buried in Eretz Kena’an, the Torah states, “VaYir’u Achei Yosef Ki Meit Avihem VaYomeru Lu Yistemeinu Yosef,” “Yosef’s brothers saw that their father had died, and they said, ‘now Yosef will hate us’” (BeReishit 50:15). They express the fear that now that Yaakov is dead, Yosef will seek revenge and retaliate for their actions against him. Perhaps, when dealing with ordinary mortals, the fear might be justified. When Yitzchak dies, we believe Eisav when he says, “Yikrevu Yemei Eivel Avi VeAhargah Et Yaakov Achi,” “When my father dies, I will execute my brother Yaakov” (BeReishit 27:41). But could the brothers actually believe that Yosef, the one identified as Yosef HaTzaddik, would seek revenge?

The Midrash Tanchuma records an interesting Midrash describing the return trip to Egypt following Yaakov’s burial. Apparently, Yosef passes the pit into which he was thrown by his brothers and gazes into its depths. The brothers suspect that the image of snakes and scorpions attacking Yosef would be rekindled and encourage him to orchestrate revenge. However, Yosef emerges from that pit with a different perspective. He realizes that currently he wears purple robes of royalty in contrast to his multicolored coat, which, years ago, was dripping with blood and presented to Yaakov as evidence of his demise. Yosef thinks, “Now I sit on a royal throne and then I sat amidst snakes. I realize how fortunate I am and how my destiny has changed so dramatically. I gaze at the pit not to marshal anger and vengeance but rather to develop a perspective as to how fortunate I am today.”

The Torah demands that we remember our humble beginnings on a daily basis: “VeZacharta Ki Eved Hayita BeMitzrayim,” “Remember the day when you were nothing but slaves in Egypt” (Devarim 5:14). Just as our rise to power in Israel is not our own doing but rather a reflection of the Divine will, so too Yosef realizes that his rise to power is a reflection of Hashem’s will.

When the brothers see Yosef gaze but do not hear him chant the Berachah, as the Gemara records, “Baruch SheAsah Li Neis BaMakom HaZeh,” “Thank you, O Lord, for having performed a miracle in this location unto me” (Berachot 54a), they are worried; they believe Yosef is thinking of revenge. However, Yosef eventually states, “Al Tire’u Ki HaTachat Elokim Ani,” “Do not be afraid; am I not in the place of God?” (BeReishit 50:19). As Onkelos interprets, “Do not be afraid, for I am aware of the fact that God has orchestrated this entire episode, and, as such, there should be no fear of retribution.” Realizing that Yosef stares into the pit with an intention of thanks and not revenge, the brothers are reassured.  

One of the great challenges for today’s youth is that its members lack a pit to which to return. There is no hunger or poverty, lack of toys, computers, cell phones, cars, or vacation trips. One way to help address this concern is to participate in a Heritage trip to Poland to help them understand what life was like prior to the rise of Medinat Yisrael. Upon return to Israel, they will be capable of saying, “Baruch SheAsah Li Neis BaMakom HaZeh.”