(2013/5774)

Yosef's life is filled with challenges and betrayals. Whenever he seems to survive one trial, another arises.  As soon as Yosef recovers from the pain of being betrayed by one person, someone else turns against him. Yet, in Parashat VaYechi, we see that in the end, Yosef is genuinely forgiving. After Ya’akov dies, Yosef’s brothers ask Yosef for forgiveness because they fear that Yosef's former kindness towards them had only been out of respect for their father. Yosef surprises them by granting them complete forgiveness. How does Yosef manage to rise above the great adversity he faced to the extent that he forgives the ones who caused it all: His brothers?

Rav Jonathan Sacks answers this with a quote from Winston Churchill: “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” After Yosef is thrown into a pit by his brothers and then sold to Egypt, Yosef retains his faith in Hashem. The Midrash Tanchumah teaches this by stating that Yosef constantly refers to Hashem in the presence of Potifar.  Then, after he is falsely accused by Potifar's wife, Yosef keeps his passion for Hashem alive, even after being thrown in jail. We see this from Yosef's response to the butler's request for Yosef to interpret his dream. “And Yosef said to them, “Do interpretations not belong to God? Tell them to me, I beg you” (BeReishit 40:8). As the story continues, Yosef continues to express his devotion to Hashem until he finally faces his challenge of forgiving his brothers. Therefore it is no surprise that Yosef responds, “‘Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children’” (50:19-21).

Whether we are in high school or beyond, each of us faces constant challenges. Let us learn from Yosef HaTzadik and throughout all of the challenges maintain persistent enthusiasm in our observance of the Torah. That is how we can overcome them all.