ספר בראשית

With G-d's Blessing

The Midrash brings the verse from Mishlei (20:5): "The thoughts of a man’s heart are like deep waters." It explains this with an analogy to a deep well, where the deeper the water, the sweeter and cooler it is. Similarly, there is a profound point of Torah within each individual in Bnei Yisrael, and the more effort one puts into revealing it, the greater the discovery. This depth is hinted at in Tehillim (31:20): "How great is Your goodness that You have hidden." Additionally, Mishlei (19:21) states: "The thoughts of man are many, yet the plan of Hashem will persevere," indicating that each person has a “nekuda tova,” a point of absolute goodness, which is the “plan of Hashem” hidden in their heart.This point, called the “plan of Hashem,” suggests that one can align all their thoughts towards this central thought, nullifying other distractions to let this point persevere. By connecting everything to this central point, as expressed in the Midrash of “tying one rope to another,” one finds and links everything to holiness. This effort is symbolized by the work done during the weekdays, compared to Yehuda and the rest of the tribes. As expressed in Mishlei (5:15): "Drink water from your cistern, and liquid from your well," these two sources of water are likened to the days of the week and Shabbos.Yosef is compared to Shabbos, representing the rest of Shabbos, a special light attained through overcoming tests. When tested, one brings light to places lacking it, as seen when Yosef was thrown into a pit, which was empty of water—implying a hidden light. Subsequently, he was brought to Mitzrayim, a land of impurity, and through his strength, he withstood the test, advancing from the level of בור (pit) to באר (well). The other brothers needed to find this hidden light in nature, representing the Oral Torah, which explains the Written Torah through effort. Each soul in Bnei Yisrael embodies these elements, but Yosef and his brothers were repairing the world on a broader scale, part of the “deep advice” of the exile in Mitzrayim, enabling Bnei Yisrael to draw the Torah into the world.

The Midrash interprets the verse, "If you have put up security for your neighbor," in relation to Yehuda, who said, "For your servant has guaranteed the boy." He then explained, "How can I go up if I see my father's sorrow?" This shows that Yehuda's primary distress was not due to his guarantee but rather the thought of his father's sorrow. It can be said that Yehuda knew that since he had guaranteed Binyamin's return, it was a sign that he would indeed be able to bring him back to his father.Similarly, the guarantee of the Israelites, who accepted the Torah, means they should strengthen their faith in Hashem and believe that He will surely help them fulfill their commitment. As it is said, "I have sworn, and I will uphold it, to keep Your righteous judgments." In the same way, all of Bnei Yisrael are guarantors for one another, and through this mutual responsibility, each person can help their fellow Jew, as explained in the mitzvah of helping with loading and unloading burdens. The term "guarantee" (ערבות) is related to the word "mixture" (תערובות), indicating that the guarantor is inherently connected to the matter at hand.

The Midrash interprets the verse, "For your eyes can see that it is my mouth that is speaking to you," in relation to Yosef's reunion with his brothers. This concept connects to the Zohar’s explanation that during the exile in Mitzrayim, the concept of speech (דיבור) was in exile. This is seen in the verse, "This is what their father said to them," indicating that the clarity of divine speech was hidden during their exile. Yosef, however, represents the "mouth of speech," linking speech to voice.When the brothers returned to Yaakov and recounted their encounter with Yosef, the verse states, "They spoke all the words that Yosef spoke to them... and the spirit of Yaakov was revived." This revival indicates that Yaakov recognized something in Yosef's words that resonated deeply, reflecting the essence of Yosef the tzadik. The clarity of Yosef’s words is reminiscent of the revelation at Sinai, where it is said, "They saw the voices," symbolizing the clear and direct communication from Hashem.Yosef's time in Mitzrayim was a preparation for Yaakov and his family's eventual descent there. Yosef served as the intermediary, connecting Yaakov's spiritual insight (Da’as) to the practical actions (Ma’ase) of the brothers. When Yaakov saw the wagons sent by Yosef, his spirit was revived, understanding that Yosef would provide for their spiritual and physical needs. Yosef's message to Yaakov, "lest you become impoverished," hinted at both physical and spiritual sustenance. Yosef knew that Yaakov's continuity depended on him, as indicated in the Midrash, where Hashem conditioned Yaakov's move to Mitzrayim on Yosef’s presence. This principle extends to future generations, where the power of Yosef enables redemption in difficult times. By connecting our actions to Torah and mitzvot with longing and love, we bring the light of Torah into every mitzvah, embodying the essence of Yosef.