‘Parsha Growth Spurts’
Rabbi Dani Staum
Parshas Vayeshev
On one occasion there was a dispute between the venerable Roshei Yeshiva of the great Volozhiner Yeshiva, the Netziv and the Bais Halevi, about a matter pertaining to the yeshiva. The two Rabbonim decided to present their case before Rabbi Yitzchak Elchonon Spektor and Reb Zev, the Maggid of Vilna.
After hearing both sides the Maggid exclaimed that he was in the middle of parshas Vayeshev. The assemblage looked at him incomprehensibly; it was the end of the winter and parshas Vayeshev had been read months earlier.
The Maggid explained, “Every Shabbos I present a d’rasha in shul based on the parsha. Invariably, the parsha contains a righteous heroic individual as well as his antagonistic wicked counterpart. In parshas Bereishis, Adam is challenged by the serpent; in parshas Noach, Noach must contend with the corruption of his generation; in parshas Lech Lecha, Avrohom must deal with Pharaoh; in parshas Vayera, he must deal with the wicked inhabitants of Sedom, etc. etc.
“But in parshas Vayeshev, there is a schism between the righteous Yosef and his righteous brothers. Both sides involved holy and G-d-fearing people. There it is so much harder to deliberate and delve into what transpired.
“Similarly, at this moment two great tzaddikim stand before me. How difficult it is to decide who is correct. It is the same situation as parshas Vayeshev.”
The greatest challenges in life are not when we are confronted with right and wrong, but when we must decide between right and right. It is in those moments of confusion and darkness when one especially needs the wisdom and guidance of Torah leaders.
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(38:1) “It was at that time that Yehuda went down from his brothers and turned away toward an Adullamite man whose name was Chirah.”
The Sha’arei Orah explains that friendship is built primarily on feelings of trust and security. The test of true friendship is when one can reveal something confidential without it having a negative effect on the friendship.
This is essentially what occurred with Yehuda. The Torah relates that Yehuda met Chirah and engaged in business ventures with him. The Torah then relates the enigmatic events that occurred in Yehuda’s private life, and that Yehuda sent compensation with “Chirah, his friend the Adullamite”. Yehuda obviously had to reveal to Chirah what had occurred. Yet, Chirah is still called, “his friend”. Despite what Chirah now knew the friendship was not diminished whatsoever.
On the words “ואהבת לרעך כמוך – Love your friend as yourself” Rashi explains that the friend the Torah refers to is Hashem, as the pasuk (Mishley 27:10) says “Your friend and the friend of your father do not forsake.”
According to the Shaarei Orah’s explanation of what friendship is, we can understand why Hashem is our truest friend. We constantly beseech Hashem to forgive us and guide us in the betterment of our service to Him. Yet, despite our repeated offenses, Hashem continues to love us unequivocally, pardoning us over and over. No matter how much we fall our connection with Hashem is never severed.
The Rambam (Hilchos Chanukah 1:1) writes, “מצות נר חנוכה מצוה חביבה היא עד מאד – The Chanukah candles are very very dear.” The candles are “very very dear” because they symbolize a ‘friendship’ which is “very very dear”. In our darkest hour Hashem came to our aid and demonstrated His uncompromised love for us.
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(37:35) “All of his sons and daughters arose to comfort him, and he refused to be consoled. And he said ‘For I will go down to the grave a mourner on account of my son.”
The Ohr HaChaim Hakadosh explains that there were no words uttered in his family’s efforts to console Yaakov Avinu. Rather they employed a clever tactic. The whole family gathered together – his eleven remaining sons, their twin sisters, their wives, and all of their children – and together they entered Yaakov’s tent. They hoped that Yaakov would see that, despite the terrible loss of his beloved son, he still had so much to live for in his large beautiful family.
Yet Yaakov refused to be consoled because, no matter how great and large his family was, they could not replace the loss of his beloved Yosef.
There may be twenty children in a family. But to a parent every child is irreplaceable.
That is how Hashem views our every mitzvah and every tefillah. We may feel our contribution isn’t worth much. But to our Loving Father in Heaven our efforts are invaluable.
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