Leah’s Blog – Vayigash – January 2025
“And the brothers sat down to eat bread”, the end of the first Yosef Hatzaddik Chapter in what I call the real book of Pride and Prejudice. The selling of Yosef was so tragic that the repercussions Chazal teach us, is an unfolding story to this very day. Baring the consequences of baseless hatred, Yosef is “brought down” to Egypt. As if that wasn’t enough, he continues to descend until he finally drops rock bottom. Internally however, his honor and integrity are not hurt. Yosef, in complete self -confidence rises- all that is on his tongue he accredits to Hashem. Always dignified, even when stripped from his garments once by his brothers and then again by eshet Potiphar- naked, he retains dignity because he is clothed in Hashem. Yosef brings a great delight to everyone that knows him. Yosef holds inside himself zero personal ego which is why he is able to hold the storehouses of the wealth and bread of Egypt. In later chapters of the Yosef story, the brothers come laden with delicacies of the Land- almonds, balm, dates, honey gum, etc. but they were seeking bread. Seeking Yosef. “הבה לנו לחם” asking for specifically bread. There was a famine in the Land- but clearly we see there were other things to eat. Being a conduit for the giving of massive amounts of bread to his brothers and the world, he said, “This success is not from the work of my hands or my greatness- but from Hashem.”
BREAD – THE SYMBOL OF PRIDE
On Pesach when we review the main commandment of not eating bread- the symbol of pride and arrogance we remember that we were slaves in Egypt. The honor given to the first generations that settled in Goshen quickly dissolved “And a new king took over Egypt who did not know Yosef.” Instead of honor going to Israel, Pharoh reeked of arrogance as he said “I have done all of this” (in the great building up of cities and ruling power of the world.) Nor did he know Hashem, and his heart became very stubborn and hard (הכבדתי את ליבו)- (meaning- from the root word of honor- kavod- it turned into a curse). Am Yisrael almost slipped away reaching the 49th level of 50 in being lost forever. Extremely hard times were upon us – we are commanded to remember them. Moshe Rabbeinu miraculously was born and restored the true honor to Am Yisrael as he delivered the honor of the Torah enabling them to arise from that low place finally.
In the desert we ate mahn for there was no bread.
The story of Yosef begins with a lad so good looking, he curled his hair and even applied eyeliner. What we thought was a prime example of arrogance teaches us a lesson that you can’t judge a book from its cover. He took glory from Hashem and shined it out. His mother, Rachel who is laid to rest in literally “the house of bread- Beit Lechem” is the primordial and everlasting description of gorgeous. We learn from Rachel however that she forfeits personal ego and gives over the signs to her sister surrendering any personal benefit – relinquishing herself of her very pride. What came out of the special attributes of our Matriarchs and Patriarchs have survived and brought us to this very special time when the entire world stands in awe of us. Israel is come alive again. October 7 2023 brought us down on our knees. The fall was even harder with international anti-Semitic tribunals looking to lock us up and persecute heartlessly. Israel has tried in every what way to be recognized but sometimes it takes, as in our parsha, a total falling back in awe for a time when all nations will know Hashem through our light. We rise now -bringing Hashem honor. Those whose pride and prejudice bore down on Israel will now behold revelation.
Shabbat shalom! BLESSINGS xoxoxox Leah
