Parasha Thoughts
By Rabbi David Cohen
But his brothers could not answer him because they were left disconcerted before him. (45:3)
Chazal have used the brothers’ reaction to Yosef’s revelation – their overriding fear and trepidation – to describe in some manner what we are all destined to face on the day of ultimate judgment before the ultimate Judge. Indeed, the Kli Yakar writes that this is why the Torah relates their reaction, so that the intelligent individual will derive a kal v’chomer, a priori argument, concerning what he should personally expect. When you think about it, what does the average person fear? There is no doubt that we all have areas in which we are deficient; some, in which we could improve; and others, in which we have serious – perhaps uncorrectable – deficits. We are only human. Certainly, we will not be taken to task for not developing our potential and becoming this generation’s Gaon m’Vilna or Chafetz Chaim. Our Baalei Mussar, Ethicists, teach us otherwise. This is what prompted the unprecedented fear that gripped Yosef’s brothers. It was discovered that they had erred this entire time, that all of their postulates had been false.
The brothers had paskened, adjudicated the law, and decided that Yosef’s actions warranted the ultimate penalty: death. He was a rodef, pursuer, and deserved to be punished accordingly. They had grappled with the incident concerning Yosef numerous times throughout the years, arriving at the same decision each time. Now, after twenty-two years, some doubt is aroused within them concerning their lack of compassion. Perhaps they should have shown a bit more sensitivity. After all, he was their brother. But, that was all. After twenty-two years, their only concern was their lack of compassion. Their opinion concerning the penalty which they had adjudicated was set in stone. They had not erred.
A few days later, Yosef made his revelation: Ani Yosef, “I am Yosef!” Suddenly, they realized that they had not been correct, an error in judgment had crept in. They were shocked beyond shock. According to Chazal, parchah nishmasam, their souls flew out from them.
May we all have the clarity to realize our mistakes and the strength to correct them.