The Short Vort
Good Morning!
Today is Sunday the 5th of Teves 5781 and December 20, 2020
Lack of Recognition
Finally, in this week's Parsha, Yosef meets up with his brothers.
"And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him."
The Mefrashim (commentators) struggled to understand why Yosef was able to recognize them; however, they could not recognize him?
Rashi explains: "Now Joseph recognized, etc.: Because he had left them [when they were already] full-bearded."
"but they did not recognize him: Because when he left them, he was not full-bearded, and now they found him full-bearded.
The Aggadic Midrash states: "And Joseph recognized his brothers" -when they were delivered into his hands, he recognized that they were his brothers, and he had compassion for them. But they did not recognize him when he fell into their hands, to behave toward him with brotherhood."
Nevertheless, the passuk still begs an understanding.
Was Yosef so different that they could not recognize him?
Rebbe Kalonymus Kalman Halevi Epstein (Poland, 1753– Kraków, 1825, was one of the great leaders of the Chassidic movement, known as the Maor Vashamesh (מאור ושמש)
The Maor VaShemesh offers a unique answer.
Yosef was able to recognize his brothers at this point because, during the 22 years of his absence, the brothers remained spiritually stagnant.
The brothers were on the same spiritual level as they were on the day he left them.
Since the divine presence left Yakov for the twenty-two years of separation, indeed, the brothers were also devoid of the Shechina's presence.
Therefore, Yosef was quickly able to recognize his brothers.
They were the same men with the same spiritual limitations.
However, Yosef had utilized these twenty-two years as an opportunity for spiritual growth and elevation.
As the passuk says, "And his master saw that Hashem was with him, and whatever he (Yoseph) did Hashem made prosper in his hand." (39:3)
During these twenty-two years of Yosef's separation from his family, he took advantage of it to grow spiritually.
He was no longer the tattle-telling kid at the beginning of Parshas VaYeishev; he was now a compassionate and fair ruler of a country.
And more importantly, he was setting the groundwork for how a Jew can be involved in the world around him while still maintaining his spirituality without compromising an iota of his Judaism.
Yosef had matured, and the little lad had blossomed into an internationally acclaimed leader; known for his holiness, fairness, and economic insight.
He maintained this position of prime-minister while remaining loyal and faithful to his Torah life-style.
The brothers, therefore, could not recognize Yosef.
The words "but they did not recognize him" are not meant to be read as descriptive. Instead, they are to be understood as being prescriptive.
The brothers could not have recognized Yosef even if they tried, for he was no longer the same Yosef from twenty-two years ago.
On the other hand, the brothers, explains the Maor VaShemesh, had remained (of course, they are still the holy Shivtei Ka) spiritually sluggish and static.
They had not grown spiritually because, during the twenty-two years of Yosef's absence, the Shechina had departed not only from Yakov but, (as the Maor VaShemesh explains) from the brothers as well!
Therefore, Yosef, who had grown spiritually, who had withstood the advances of Mrs. Potiphor, who had remained steadfast in his Yiddishkeit, was quickly able to recognize his brothers who remained spiritually the same.
On the other hand, the brothers could never, even if they had wanted to, truly "recognize" Yosef as he was no longer the same spiritual man he was twenty-two years before.
During this pandemic, we are also in crisis mode.
We have a choice before us.
We can be like the brothers and feel as if the Shechina has left us and remain stagnant and static.
Or we can be like Yosef as we utilize the tests that Hashem has put before us to grow and become greater spiritually.
The choice is in our hands!
"If Not Now, Then When?"- Hillel
Ron Yitzchok Eisenman
