Vayigash
Lifesavers
By Rabbi Shlomo Jarcaig
Upon receiving word that Yosef (Joseph) was alive and well in Egypt, Yaakov
(Jacob) was initially skeptical. But when "he saw the wagons ("agalos" in
Hebrew) that Yosef had sent to transport him, then the spirit of their
father Yaakov was revived." (Beraishis/Genesis 45:27) Rashi explains the
significance of the wagons was that as Yosef departed from Yaakov's home
they were learning about the mitzvah of Egla Arufa (see Devarim/Deuteronomy
21:1-9), the heifer that is decapitated by the Elders of the closest city to
a corpse that is found between cities ("egla" and "agalo" share a common
spelling). Yosef sent wagons to transmit the message to his father that he
had internalized and continued to live by the lessons that he had been
taught as a lad.
Maharal (acronym for Rabbi Yehuda Loewe, 1526-1609, one of the seminal
figures in Jewish thought in the last half millennium; Chief Rabbi of
Moravia, Posen and Prague; author of works in all fields of Torah) asks the
significance of this particular mitzvah being the last thing Yaakov and
Yosef had learned together. Surely it could not have been coincidental, for
Yosef was so certain that Yaakov would remember that that was the last thing
they had learned. Rabbi Loewe explains that part of the mitzvah of Egla
Arufa is that, after the animal is axed, the elders of the city wash their
hands over the animal and declare that they did not spill the blood of the
murdered individual. The Talmud (Sotah 46b) notes the peculiarity of this
declaration: would one really think that the elders of the city murdered the
stranger? The Talmud explains that the elders are declaring that they were
unaware of this man's presence in the city, for had they been aware of his
presence, they surely would not let him leave without accompanying him for
the beginning of his journey, for no harm will befall one who is accompanied
as he leaves a city. Maharal explains that the accompaniment upon departure
indicates that he is a recognizable member of the greater society. As one
making an impact on the society, he merits a heavenly protection. However,
one who is not accompanied is not designated as a significant member of the
society at large. If society does not value what he has to offer, they have,
in a sense, killed him as they have negated his ability to contribute. Thus,
the elders must declare that they did not kill him, because by ignoring his
value and allowing him to leave unattended, they would have, in a sense,
killed him.
Maharal concludes that as father and son reached Chevron, Yosef did not want
to inconvenience Yaakov any further. Yaakov then taught him the lesson of
Egla Arufa, that one who does not escort is compared to a murderer. Twenty
two years later, Yosef's wagons stated: "Dear Father, you escorted me. As
per your teaching, I merited divine supervision, and I have survived this
ordeal unscathed." When Yaakov witnessed Yosef's demonstration of this
lesson, his spirit was revived.
In our life's effort to emulate the Divine, we must appreciate that we, too,
have the ability to provide others with the gift of life. We know so many
who question their value or import in this world, people who feel alone and
downtrodden. When we take the time to demonstrate to them that we value
them as people, and what they can contribute to the world around us, we do
not simply offer them an emotional boost, we literally give them life.
Have a Good Shabbos!
Copyright © 2002 by Rabbi Pinchas Avruch and Project Genesis, Inc.
Kol HaKollel is a publication of the Milwaukee Kollel Center for Jewish
Studies 5007 West Keefe Avenue; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; 414-447-7999
