 | | Parshat Vayigash teaches us about the emotional reunion of Yosef and his brothers, as well as the highly anticipated reunion of Yosef and his father, Yaakov. However, before he sees his father for the first time in twenty-two years, Yosef tells his brothers to relate the following message to him: “Thus says your son Yosef, ‘God has made me lord over all Egypt; come down to me without delay…And you must tell my father everything about my high station in Egypt and all that you have seen; and bring my father here with all speed’” (Bereshit 45:9, 13). Why would this be the first message Yosef wants his father to hear? After over two decades of separation, why does Yosef think that the first thing his long-suffering father wants to know is how grand and successful his son has become? After all, Yaakov, the Bachir HaAvot, the Chosen Patriarch, did not value wealth, fame and status. Rather, Yaakov valued spirituality, following the Torah, and living a virtuous, moral, upright life. If this is so, why would hearing about Yosef’s material success in Egypt bring him comfort or impress him? What was the real message Yosef was trying to convey to his father?
According to the Netziv, Yosef’s message to his father was not about boasting of his material gains at all. Rather, it was about demonstrating his spiritual resolve and moral integrity throughout the long, hard years of his exile. Based on his son’s message, Yaakov understood that the only way someone like Yosef could rise to such a high station in Egypt was if he greatly impressed Pharaoh on a personal level. How did Yosef impress Pharaoh? He impressed Pharaoh by showing him that he was a man of principled beliefs and moral integrity. When Yosef interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams for him, he told the King in advance, “It is not I, but God Who will see to Pharaoh’s welfare” (Bereshit 41:16). When Pharaoh heard this, he understood that Yosef was an honest, humble man. After all, if Yosef wanted to be elevated in the eyes of Pharaoh, it would make more sense for him to take credit for his gifts and talents. It would make more sense to tell Pharaoh how indispensable he is to his welfare, and that without him, Pharaoh, and indeed, all of Egypt would be lost. Yet, Yosef did not do that. He simply told Pharaoh that he is an instrument of the Divine, and it is God, not he, Who can resolve the dreams of the King. Pharaoh saw in Yosef a man who cared less for his own personal wellbeing and safety, and more for being a true, authentic, and uncompromising servant of God. Consequently, Pharaoh knew Yosef could be trusted, and would work tirelessly on his behalf at the behest of God. It was Yosef’s principles and faith which elevated him to the position of viceroy – not his personality, good looks or charm.
Thus, when Yaakov heard Yosef’s message, he exclaimed, “My son Yosef still lives!” (Ibid., 45:28), meaning, “he saw prophetically, that Yosef had withstood his challenges and remained righteous” (HaEmek Davar, Bereshit 45:28). In other words, the same Yosef Yaakov remembered twenty-two years ago is the same Yosef who exists to this day! Yosef lives because he remained true to the Torah. Yosef lives because he remained humble and honest. Yosef lives because his chief priority was to be a servant of God, and remain true to his principles.
This Shabbat, let us consider that the surest way to success is not to abandon our principles when we think it will be advantageous for us to do so in order to advance our positions or appease others. Rather, the surest way to success in this world is to remain true to our principles, to Torah values and Shmirat Mitzvot no matter the consequence. Yosef communicated to his father that he only attained his position because of his unrelenting faith and spiritual devotion, and we too, like Yosef, should also know that everything we have is because we remain true to our values, hold tight to our principles, and remain faithful to the Torah of our ancestors.
Shabbat Shalom!
-Rabbi Dan
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