(2009/5769)

In this week’s Parashah, we witness one of the most dramatic events in the entire Torah. After many years of separation, Yosef HaTzaddik reveals himself to his brothers, followed by Yosef’s making peace with them. Achai Yosef then return to Eretz Yisrael, break the exhilarating news to Yaakov and then return to Mitzrayim with the entire family, settling in Goshen. This family formed the foundation of what was to become the Jewish people. When reading about this event, it seems quite unrealistic that Yosef would so easily forgive his brothers, in light of the suffering he had experienced because of them.

Yosef reveals himself with a simple statement. The Pasuk states: “Vayomer Yosef El Echav, Ani Yosef” “And Yosef said to his brothers, ‘I am Yosef’ ” (BeReishit 45:3).

The Chofetz Chaim explains that prior to Yosef’s revelation, the brothers were perplexed by their encounters with him.  However, the moment Yosef said, “Ani Yosef”- “I am Yosef,” they understood that their seemingly cruel actions against Yosef had a purpose and that they were part of Hashem’s master plan. If so, how do we account for the subsequent Pesukim in which Yosef eases his brothers’ shock by explaining how their actions were justified? It seems that this explanation by Yosef is unnecessary.

In evaluating this issue, we must examine the brothers’ jealousy resulting from Yaakov’s special affection for Yosef. This jealousy was fueled by Yaakov’s gift to Yosef of the Ketonet Pasim (colorful coat) and Yosef’s dreams in which his brothers bow down to him. There is, though, another possible motivation for the brothers’ sale of Yosef. The brothers were aware of their grandfather, Yitzchak’s, favoring of Eisav over Yaakov, and of the catastrophic results of this preference, had it not been for Rivka. With this in mind, the brothers used the principle of Maaseh Avot Siman Lebanim - the actions of the father predict the actions of the son. They thought that just as Yitzchak favored the wrong son, Yaakov was favoring the wrong son as well. Therefore, the brothers sold Yosef because they thought that he was a Rashah, a wicked person, and that, like Eisav, he was a threat to their family. Based on this theory, the brothers thought they were doing the right thing, and their intentions were pure.

We return to our original question. Why, if the brothers already understood that everything that had previously occurred was part of Hashem’s plan, did Yosef put additional stress on it? The answer is that he wanted them to know that he realized that their intentions were good and that their actions turned out for the best.

It is always difficult, if not impossible, to understand the long term implications of unfolding events as they happen. A recent example of this is the Holocaust and its connection to the founding of the State of Israel. Although the reason for the Holocaust is beyond human comprehension, it can be attributed to part of a series of unfolding events which ultimately led to the creation of Israel. On a more personal level, we all experience success, as well as adversity in our lives. Our goal must be to view our adversity as part of Hashem’s world design and understand that everything is meant to be. It is only through this that we will be able to “make peace” with our situation, just as the brothers and Yosef made peace with one another.