Vayigash
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week’s parsha that Hashem appears to Yaakov Avinu as he is preparing to go down to Egypt to see his son Yosef. He tells him (Chapter 46 Pasuk 3) Al Tirah Me’redah Mitzraymah, do not be afraid to go down to Egypt. Rashi comments that we see from here that Yaakov Avinu was very concerned about leaving Eretz Yisrael and going to Chutz L’Aretz. Hashem calmed him and told him in the next pasuk that the Shechinah will do down with him to Egypt and eventually return with him back to Eretz Yisrael. And in the concluding words of this reassurance, Gd tells him not to worry because “Yosef Yashis Yado al Eiynecha”, Yosef will place his hand on your eyes.
What is the meaning of this statement “Yosef Yashis Yado al Eiynecha”, and how is it meant to reassure Yaakov?
When Yehudah goes down to Mitzrayim ahead of Yaakov the Torah says (Chapter 46, Pasuk 28), V’es Yehudah Shalach Lefanav el Yosef Lehoros Lefanav Goshnah. Yehudah was sent ahead to Yosef to lead the way to Goshen. Rashi teaches that Yehudah went ahead in order to establish a yeshiva, a place of learning, from where instruction in Halacha could go forth.
The Sfas Emes contrasts the way in which Yehudah went down to Egypt as opposed to the way Yosef went down. Yehudah went down with great fanfare, establishing a presence of Torah and making their presence known. Yosef went down in a quieter, more secretive manner. He was sold, and sold further until he found his way there working as a slave. This dichotomy between Yehuda and Yosef is most commonly expressed in the way they sanctified Gd’s name. Chazal teach that Yehudah was “Mekadesh Shem Shamayim Ba’Rabim”, Yehudah publicly sanctified Hashem’s name with the case of Tamar. And this public act is reflected in the name of Yehuda which contains the letters of Gd’s name. Yosef, however, sanctified Gd’s name privately with the wife of Potiphar and as a result an additional letter was added to his name, the letter “heh” which reflects the name of Hashem.
These two acts reflect the two different aspects of Torah. There is the Torah which is revealed and understood by us, and the parts of the Torah which are hidden and not clearly understood. Yosef who privately sanctified Gd’s name by maintaining his moral purity and being Shomer HaBris, the Bris Hama’or, the Bris Milah. He represents the hidden part of Torah. Yehudah, who publicly was Mekadesh Shem Shamayim, represents the Bris HaLashon, the covenant of the tongue. It was with his mouth that he publicly sanctified Gd’s name by uttering the words, Tzadkah Mimenee. And by establishing a place of learning in Egypt, he was strengthening the Bris HaLashon which is maintained by studying Torah and through prayer. This is the revealed part of Torah.
The Meshech Chachmah contrasts Yaakov going down to Mitzrayim with Avraham Avinu going to Eretz Yisrael. In parshat Lech Lecha, Avraham is commanded to go to Eretz Cana’an. And the Torah gives reasons why he is to go, for this is the land which is being promised to his descendants. Yaakov, on the other hand, is unclear as to why he should go to Mitzrayim on a long-term basis. It’s one thing to go and visit his son, but surely his place is in Eretz Yisrael. Therefore Hashem tells him, Yosef Yashis Yado al Eiynecha. Yosef, who represents the private, hidden strength of a Jew as expressed in the mitzvah of Milah, will place his hand on your eyes. Yosef, who represents the hidden aspects of Torah, will cover your eyes so that you will not understand the reason why it is necessary for you to down to Egypt and settle there. Eventually it will become clear, but for now Yaakov is told he must remain in the dark and not attempt to analyze the reason for these events.
This is being told to Yaakov in a vision at night. The Meshech Chachmah teaches that it was specifically to Yaakov that Hashem appeared in a vision at night. And this is because Yaakov Avinu is the only one of the Avos who spent an extended period of time in galus. This is why Yaakov Avinu is the one who established Tefillas Arvis, the evening prayer, since in the darkness of night and galus we also connect to Hashem. The vision showed Yaakov that the Shechinah will be with him in Chutz L’Aretz and eventually return with him to Eretz Yisrael. But in the meantime, Yaakov must employ the hidden part of Torah, and realize that just as the greatness of Yosef was hidden, so too the reasons for Hashem’s plans are to remain hidden as well.
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