Vayigash - 1st Portion

Join me as we learn together Chitas Chumash for Sunday Parshas Vayeigash, the first Torah reading of Parshas Vayeigash, chapter 44, verse 18. >> [snorts] >> Using the Chayenu can help you follow along. The Torah reading last week concluded by telling us about where the brothers of Yosef left Egypt, each one being wined and dined by Yosef who was the viceroy of Egypt. And as they about to leave town, they are chased by Yosef's guards accusing them of stealing their master's gabla goblet. Each one denying it until they find in in Binyamin's sack the goblet that belonged to Yosef, thereby all of them returning to Egypt, Yosef saying that Binyamin will have to stay with them while the rest can go up to their father, and and Binyamin will stay with Yosef as a slave. This week's Torah reading begins where Yehuda approaches Yosef as he is the one that took responsibility for his brother. Verse 44 verse 18, chapter 44. Vayeigash Elav Yehuda. And Yehuda approached Yosef. Vayomer Ani said, "Be Adoni, please, my lord. Yedaber Na Avdecha Davar Be'oznay Adoni. Let your servant speak a word that will enter my lord's ear. Al Yichar Apcha Ba'avdecha. Don't get angry at your servant Ki Chamoch Kepharoh cuz you are equal to Pharaoh. >> [snorts] >> Vayeigash Elav Daberna Be'oznay Adoni. Rashi explains, Yikansu Divrei Oznecha. Let my words be heard and accepted by you. Al Yichar Apcha. Mikan Atah Lameid, from here we see She Dibrei Lav Akashis that he spoke to him harshly and severely. Because being that he's asking him that he shouldn't take it that he shouldn't become angry with him, why would he become angry? Because he's going to speak with him very harshly, and therefore he asks him, "Don't take it harshly. Don't get angry. However, I want you all to understand the situation that's happening here." Ki Chamoch Kepharoh. Cuz you are an equal to Pharaoh. What does this mean? Meaning, Rashi says, "Chashuv, you are as important Atah Beineinu KeMelech, you are as important as a king in our eyes." Dizau Pshutei, that's the simple interpretation that you and Pharaoh are just as equally important to us. Medrashay, the Medrash says that Yehuda was actually hinting and alluding to something. Saf Chaliluta Shel Avicha Sarahs K'Moshe Shel Avicha Paroh. If you recall, your great-grandfather Pharaoh used to be the king of Egypt also was hit by tzaraas because since he took away our matriarch Sarah, so too because you took Binyamin, you're going to get punished just as well. K'Moshe Shel Avicha Paroh, just like Pharaoh got tzaraas Al Yedei Siknasi Because of my grandmother Sarah, so too here Al Layla Shichvah Because he kept her a night, that's why you're going to get the same punishment. So you don't keep on holding him. Davar Acher, another explanation. Mah Paroh, just like Pharaoh, which Pharaoh, the way he acts, Gozer, he makes decrees Ve'eino Mekayem, but he doesn't keep to them. Mafte'ach, he also too Mafte'ach, he says promises Ve'eino Mekayem, but he doesn't keep to his promises. Af Atah Kein, you are just the same. You have the same type of behavior. You have the same type of bad character. Vehich Zu Heisi Masai Chamarta Lasum Ein Halav, is this the eye that you said I just want to see him? You said I'm just going to put his my eye on him. I just want to see him. All you told us, "Bring the child, I just want to see him and then I'll let you go." And what do you do? You make this whole libel against us. Davar Acher, another explanation. Ki Chamoch Kepharoh, you are just as Pharaoh. Im Taknieni, if you're going to get us angry, Ereg Ischa Ve'asani Nachal, kill you and Pharaoh equally. Over here we see the different interpretations of what Yehuda was alluding to when he said, "You are just like Pharaoh." Verse 19. And now Yehuda goes on to explain and review the behavior of where and how we got to the situation we're currently dealing with. Adoni Sha'al Es Avadecha. My lord asked his servants Laymor saying, "Hayesh Lachem Av Ve'ach, do you have a brother? Do you have a father or a brother?" Rashi, verse 19. Adoni Sha'al Es Avadecha. Mitchilah, already from the beginning Yehuda is telling Yosef, "From day one you had it out against us. Mitchilah, from the beginning Ba'alilah, you came making libels and accusations Ba'asaleinu, you came to us. Lammah Hayah L'cha Lish'ol, why was it so important for you to ask us Kol Eilah, all these questions if you have a brother brother or or a father? Bitcha Yinam Vakshim, are we asking to marry your daughter? Achisainu Atah Mevakesh, are you asking to marry our sister? Do we have to know your family history for what some reason? Va'afilu Kein, still and all, even though you asked us questions which were unnecessary, Va'anachnu Amar L'Adoni, we told our master we told the lord Lo Chichadnu Mimcha, we did not hide anything from you. Davar Echad, we didn't hide anything or did not keep anything from you a secret. There's no reason why you're making this whole accusation against us. Verse 20. Va'anachnu Amar L'Adoni, we told and we answered our lord Yesh Lanu Av Zaken, we have an elderly father Ve'yeleds Kunnim, and there's a young son that was born to him at old age, Katan, a small one for a young one, Ve'achiv Meis, and his brother has died. Va'Yosef Rule Avadav. And this child, he was the only surviving child Eemai that was born from his mother. Ve'Aviv Aheiv father loves him dearly. Verse 20. Achiv Meis, even though Yosef didn't die and Yehuda knew very well that he didn't die. Mipnei Ayeyir, because he was afraid Va'Yimati Divrei Sheker Mipiv, that he said some a lie. Amar, he said, "Omer, Lo If he's going to tell him Shehu Kayem, if he's going to tell Yosef that he has another brother alive, Yomar, "Have you actually told them to bring me as well?" So he was afraid of what was going to happen next. So therefore he said that the other brother died. Like this he shouldn't have to worry that Yosef is going to tell them, "Bring the other brother like you just did with Binyamin. He said I want to see him and now he wants to keep him as a slave." He tells him that he has another brother, he's afraid he might tell him, "Bring him as well." Ve'avad Eemai, what does this mean for him for his mother? Alone for his mother. Being that his other brother died, Ma'eisa Eim, from that mother Ein Lo Od Achiv, he doesn't have another brother because the other one died. Verse 21. Va'Atemer L'Avdecha, "Bring him you told your servants Say to do Alai, bring him down to you bring him down to me Va'asimeinu Elav, so I can see him." Verse 22. Va'anachnu Amar L'Adoni, we told our master our lord Lo Yuchal Ha'na'ar Lazov Es Aviv, the young boy cannot leave his father's presence because Ve'azav Es Aviv, should he leave his father's presence, Vameis, and he might die. Ve'azav Es Aviv Vameis, doesn't mean that he will definitely die. Im Yazeiv, if Binyamin were to leave his father Aviv Doeg Im Anu Anu Concerned, Shema Yamus Baderech, maybe he'll die along the way. She'arei Eemai Because his mother Rachel Baderech Meisa, died on the road as well. However, you continue to tell us that the only way we can come down, you didn't care about that. Va'Atemer L'Avdecha, but you told your servants Im Lo Yered Achicha Hakatan Imcha, if your younger brother does not come down with you, Itchem Together With You Lo Sesifu Res'oni, you will never again be before you will never again appear before me. Verse 24. Vayehi Ke'alinu El Avadecha Avi, and it was when we went back up to Canaan to our father, your servant, Va'nagid Lo Imri Es Divrei Adoni, all that you have told us, the words of our master. Verse 25. Vayomer Avinu Avinu said to us, "Shuvu, return, go back. Shuvu Elanu K'ilu Bring us Buy us a little bit of food." Verse 26. Va'nomer El Va'nomer we told our father, Lo Nuchal Lared Shamah, we cannot go down. Im Yesh Achinu Hakatan Itanu, if our youngest brother is with us, Ve'yaradnu and to go down Lo Nuchal Lo Nuchal Be'eish Lirot Es Pnei Ish to see the face of the man Ve'achinu Hakatan Einenu Itanu, and the youngest brother will not be with us. He said we cannot come there unless our youngest brother is with us. Vayomer Avdecha Avicha And your servant your father told us, Atem Yeda'atem, you know Ki Shenayim Yalduli Ishti, you are surely know that my wife Rachel bore me two sons. Vayeitzei Verse 28. Vayeitzei Echad Me'iti Ve'omri Achalathu Chayah, one of them has left me and never returned and I said he must have been devoured by a beast. Ve'lo Re'itiv Adenah, and I did not see him since. Verse 29. U'Lekachtem Gam Zeh, and what you're going to happen is you're going to take this one as well Me'im Panai, from before my face. Vekarah Lo Asan, and a disaster will come to him, Ve'horadtem Es Seivasi Be'ra'ah She'olah, and you will cruelly bring my head down to the grave. Verse 29. Vekarah Asan, and a disaster will happen. Why was he concerned about it? As we mentioned last time in last week's Torah reading, Yaakov was afraid of this disaster occurring. The Satan, the prosecution, who tries to find guilt on individuals. And when does he do this? When people are in a stage of danger. He becomes and finds ways to say that this person is deserving of some type of punishment. And all roads are bound to be a way of danger. Because of that, while he would be traveling, would be a way of danger. And the prosecution might come against him and find something wrong with him. Verse 30. So now when I come back to your servant, your father, and the lad, the young boy, is not going to be with us. And being that his soul is bound up with his soul. They feel that connection. Here we see in this week's Torah reading the approach that Yehuda took to Yosef. Though Yehuda was not a king at the time, and Yosef was the viceroy of Egypt, Yehuda was willing to risk everything and anything to be able to save this child and bring him back to his father. So too we learn from here, from Yehuda, that though there may be whatever we have to do, whatever it takes to be able to bring back a child to his father in heaven. As well as we see the two types of behaviors that the Rebbe explains. Yehuda, which is symbolic of the kingdom of David. Yosef is also the kingdom of the time. Each one of them have their opportunity and their strength. Yosef is the king while within nature he is the one that's feeding all of Egypt. Yehuda symbolic symbolically of Moshiach and the kingdom of David, which is beyond nature. And what though in the time of exile we are confined to the kingdom of nature, however, when we pray for Moshiach and bringing about the coming of Moshiach is realizing and utilizing that extra dose of energy that God gives every single one of us of Yehuda to be able to rise above and beyond nature to bring about that child home. This concludes the Torah reading for the first Torah reading of Parshas Vayeigash.