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Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Vayigash Genesis 44:18-47:27
By Shlomo Riskin
Efrat, Israel - One of the most amazing moments in the entire Bible is the
dramatic and poignant meeting between Jacob and Joseph after 22 years of
separation. What led to that meeting was the opening speech of Judah, in
which he pleads with the Grand Vizier not to keep Benjamin – who is being
charged with stealing the Grand Vizier’s goblet – as his servant in
Egypt. It is the substance, and most probably the delivery of Judah’s
defense of Benjamin that causes the Grand Vizier to reveal himself as
Joseph. And which ultimately leads to the rapprochement between father and
son.
But even if the speech was delivered with most heartfelt feeling and
emotion, it’s substance does not at all appear powerful enough to move an
individual such as the Grand Vizier. Judah goes on about the fact that
Benjamin is now the only remaining son of Rachel, the beloved wife of his
father (Genesis 44:20) and he recounts that when the sons were about to
return to Egypt for food and he explained to his father that they could not
face the Grand Vizier without Benjamin, Judah puts in Jacob’s mouth the
following plea: “You know that two sons were born to me by my wife; one
has left me, and I must say that he has been torn, yes torn, and I have not
seen him until this moment. And now would you take also this last one from
me? If an accident would occur to him, my old age would be brought down into
the nether world in distress” (44:28,29). Judah than concludes that he
acted as co signer for Benjamin, and so he begs that he be taken into the
Grand Viziers bondage and that Benjamin be allowed to return to his father.
As soon as he concludes his words, Joseph cannot restrain his emotion,
breaks out into weeping and reveals himself to his brothers. What is there
about Judah’s plea which caused Joseph to give up the disguise he had so
preciously guarded during his period as Grand Vizier?
Together with the fundamental question of why Grand Vizier Joseph did not
contact his father is a second question of no less weightiness: why didn’t
the brothers understand earlier that this Grand Vizier must be Joseph? After
all, no other group who came to purchase food had been treated the way they
had been treated: first they were all thrown into a dungeon, then everyone
was sent back to the Land of Canaan to return with Benjamin with Simon being
held as hostage. Simon had been, together with Levi, the most active against
Joseph, and had not they cast Joseph into a pit-dungeon when they tore his
coat from him?! Who else but Joseph would have been so anxious for them to
return with Benjamin! And then, when they returned with the youngest brother
they were all seated in the order of their ages. Who else but Joseph would
have known the respective ages of each of the brothers?! So why didn’t
they understand that this Grand Vizier must have been Joseph?
I believe there were two reasons. First of all, they were so overwhelmed
with their guilt that they were certain that it was G- d who was punishing
them, G-d and not necessarily any human being. Secondly, they could not
possibly have imagined that Joseph were he indeed alive, would not have
contacted the father who had loved him so much and had given him the Coat of
Many Colors. Hence it never dawned on them that the Grand Vizier was Joseph.
Once, the Grand Vizier rejected Judah’s offer that all of them remain as
slaves (with the exception of Benjamin) it became clear to the brothers that
it was not G-d who was punishing them. After all, they were all guilty for
the sale of Joseph. Judah however still had to figure out why the Grand
Vizier, if indeed he was Joseph, had not made contact with his old father.
He realized why not. Joseph was angry even at his father for having managed
the family relationships so poorly. His father should never have
demonstrated such blatant favoritism. It was this anger which prevented him
from contacting his father, even after he rose to such great heights in
Egypt.
Now we can appreciate the brilliance with which Judah crafted his speech. He
dwells at length upon the fact that Joseph and Benjamin were the sons of
Jacob’s beloved wife Rachel. In this way he tries to make Joseph
understand that his father couldn’t help himself, that Joseph was the most
precious thing he had left of the wife for whom he had labored 14 years. He
is trying very hard to get the Grand Vizier to repent for having disguised
himself so completely – even from the father who loved him so much.
Judah also understands that Joseph cannot repent unless he feels the
brothers repented. Our Sages have always taught us that before your words
will move others, you yourself must be free of guilt. Therefore Judah
emphasizes the fact that he – the one who suggested that Joseph be thrown
into the pit in the first place – had served as a co-signer for Benjamin,
the Joseph substitute in his father’s eyes. Not only that but the same
Judah is willing to be enslaved himself rather than to see his father
grieved a second time.
Joseph is profoundly struck by the powerful impact of Judah’s words, his
anger against his father completely melts. He fully accepts Judah’s
repentance, and that gives him the inner strength to repent himself. The
family is now ready to become re-united, under the dual leadership of the
brilliant Judah and the new Joseph, both of whom have demonstrated
willingness to overcome their individual ambitions for the sake of family
unity and the centrality of G-d.
Shabbat Shalom
Shlomo Riskin
Chancellor Ohr Torah Stone
Chief Rabbi - Efrat Israel
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