Dear Friends,
In Israel these days there is much discord. Tempers are high; people are clinging to what they believe is the only truth. The situation is close to that of chaos, with everyone fighting everyone. Each person protests the absurdity of the situation – but the absurdities mentioned differ from person to person. It sometimes reminds one of boxers who are pummeling each other, but before the winner can be determined, the boxing ring itself is threatening to collapse under them as they battle away.
This is somewhat amusing, and somewhat painful, because, unlike with boxers, where each one wants to beat the other, here both sides are actually struggling to protect the boxing ring itself – its security and its image, including its morality and justice. But, as mentioned already, sometimes it feels like the ring is what is about to collapse.
“One has to live with the time.” So said Rabbi Schneur Zalman MiLiadi (the Admor HaZaken, also known as the Ba’al HaTanya, who founded Chabad). “With time” means living with the weekly Parasha, being in tune with what the Parasha that we will read this week teaches us. This week’s Parasha is the continuation of the story of Yosef – the last and most fascinating chapter in the well-known thriller known as “Joseph and his Brothers”.
I won’t include a spoiler, for the sake of those who want to hear it on Shabbat morning straight from the source. I’ll just make one clear and essential point: Yosef behaved mercifully towards his brothers. He could have paid them in kind for what they did to him, but he chose to do good to them instead. They had behaved very badly towards him: thrown him into the pit, sold him to merchants and caused him to go from trouble to trouble, until he landed in jail. But this week he reveals himself to them and invites them all to come and live with him, all expenses covered.
Based on the Zohar and on the Tanya, the Lubavitcher Rebbe suggests that we view this rare and challenging behavior of Yosef as a model we should strive to emulate: to control ourselves even when it is difficult to do so, and to counter hate and bad behavior with love and goodness.
I think that during these tumultuous times, we should stop a moment and “live with the time” – look at Yosef and observe his deeds. It would seem that these days it is difficult to even hold back and be silent, not to mention forgive or even pay back evil with good, but if we want to make sure that our boxing ring will not collapse, we must try to do so. Even if we don’t reach Yosef’s level, at least we can remember that he is the role model – that there is such a goal.
“L’ma’an Achai V’Rei’ai…”
“For the sake of my brothers and friends, I shall speak peace in your midst.”
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Zalmen Wishedski