Rabbi Frand on Parshas Vayeishev
These divrei Torah were adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Tapes on the weekly portion: Tape # 172, The
Complex Issue of Child Custody. Good Shabbos!
Rashi's Comment Contained Within the Verse Itself
Yosef dreamt that the sun, moon, and eleven stars all bowed down to him.
The symbolism of this dream was obvious to Yaakov -- the sun and moon were
Yosef's father and mother, and the eleven stars were his brothers. Yaakov
chastised Yosef, saying, "What is this dream that you dreamt (mah haChalom
hazeh ASHER CHALAMTA) -- will I and your mother and your eleven brothers
come and bow down to you to the ground?" [Bereishis 37:10].
Rash"i explains that Yaakov was not criticizing the entire dream. Rather, he
was pointing out that the dream could not possibly come true, because in fact
Yosef's mother was no longer alive.
Rash"i's comment can be derived from the words ASHER CHALAMTA (that you
dreamt). If we look carefully at those two words (and reposition the space
that separates them) we will find the words RACHEL MEISa (Rachel, Yosef's
mother, died).
Reuven, Aharon, and Boaz All Had Their Doubts
Reuven intervened to save Yosef. He did not want to participate in the
killing of his brother. According to the brothers' judgement, Yosef was a
Pursuer, one who "runs after" someone with intent to kill him. Theybelieved that Yosef was attempting to cut them out of the Jewish people.
Yet even though Chaza"l tell us that the brothers judged Yosef as a
Pursuer, deserving of death, Reuven did not want to have any part of that.
Reuven devised a plan and told the brothers to throw Yosef into a pit
(rather than kill him). Reuven hoped to eventually come back and rescue
Yosef from the pit.
The Medrash in Ruth says that had Reuven known that G-d would eventually
write that 'Reuven went and saved his brother', Reuven would have
unashamedly carried Yosef on his shoulders all the way back to his father.
Since he did not realize that this narration would appear in the Torah, he
devised a clandestine plan which was not completely successful.
The Medrash also says there that had Aharon known that his greeting to
Moshe upon Moshe's return from Midian would be recorded in the Torah, then
he would have gone out to greet Moshe with musical instruments and dancing.
Finally, the Medrash says that had Boaz realized that G-d would publicize
his generosity to Ruth, he would have provided her with a fully catered
meal, rather than feeding her a few kernels of grain!
This Medrash always bothered me. It seems to be saying that Reuven, Aharon
and Boaz were publicity hounds. Had they known that "The Press" was going
to be there, then they would have done a better job. But since they did not
think it would make the front page, they did less than they could have.
The Medrash obviously wants to praise these individuals -- they were all
doing good things. So what is the meaning of that statement that "Had they
known... they would have done it on a grander scale"?
The interpretation of the Medrash is as follows. They were not interested
in publicity. They were not interested in the front pages. However, each of
these individuals had a lot of doubt whether what he was doing was correct.
They did not know -- in each case -- whether they were doing the proper
thing at all.
Reuven was going up against his brothers -- a Beis Din of the Tribes of
Israel. Ten brothers paskened, ruled, that Yosef was a Pursuer who was
guilty of the death penalty. Reuven was in the minority. Maybe the brothers
were correct, and Yosef deserved to die. For this reason, Reuven was
hesitant. Had he known that G-d appreciated and agreed with what he did,
Reuven would have 'gone all out'.
When Aharon went to greet Moshe Rabbeinu, he also had his doubts. "People
will say I am crazy. I am the older brother. The younger brother should pay
respect to the older brother; not vice versa." Had Aharon known that G-d
would look favorably upon this act, he would have gone without any
embarrassment and without any hesitation.
When Boaz gave the food to the young maiden Ruth, he was afraid that
perhaps people would raise their eyebrows and snicker and say "Hey, what's
going on over there with Boaz and Ruth?" He was therefore concerned about
what people would say. Had he known that G-d in fact would agree with him,
he too would have 'gone all out'.
The Medrash continues, "In days gone by a person would do a mitzvah and the
prophet would record it. Nowadays when a person does a mitzvah, and people
scorn, who writes down who was right?"
The Medrash answers its own question "Eliyahu will write it down and the
Messianic King and G-d Himself will sign it in affirmation. Concerning this
it is written [Malachi 3:16] "Then the G-d fearing men spoke to one another
and the L-rd listened and heard it. And a book of remembrance was written
before Him for those who feared the L-rd and for those who valued His Name
highly."
The prophet Malachi is speaking of a period -- just prior to the coming of
the Messiah -- when everyone would laugh at those who observed the Mitzvos.
Everyone will say "these guys are behind the times; they are not modern;
they are not 'with it'". It will appear that the other forces are the ones
that are prevailing.
Perhaps in those times, people will also be reticent and hesitate to take a
stand. People will again think "we are in the minority; maybe they are
right and we are wrong." Malachi talks about a time when people will
perhaps be ashamed to do what they think is right, like Reuven and Aharon
and Boaz.
So G-d testifies that at the end of the days, before Moshiach, "You do what
you know is right. Keep the Torah; keep the faith; keep the flame burning. I
and Eliyahu the prophet and the Moshiach himself are going to write about
you that you were right all along."
Glossary
paskened -- issued a halachic (Jewish legal) ruling
Moshiach -- the Messiah
This week's write-up is adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissochar
Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Torah Tapes on the weekly Torah portion (#172).
The corresponding halachic portion for this tape is: The Complex Issue of
Child Custody. The other halachic portions for Parshas Vayeshev from the
Commuter Chavrusah Series are:
Also Available: Mesorah / Artscroll has published a collection
of Rabbi Frand's essays. The book is entitled:
and is available through your local Hebrew book store or from
Project Genesis, 1-410-654-1799.
