1. After Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, the Torah states that Joseph fell upon Benjamin's neck and wept and Benjamin wept upon Joseph's neck. The Torah commentator, Rashi, tell us that Joseph wept over the two temples that were destined to be in the portion of the tribe of Benjamin and would inevitably be destroyed. Benjamin wept over the tabernacle at Shiloh, destined to be in the portion of the tribe of Ephraim, descendents of Joseph, which too was destroyed.

One might ask, why not weep over your own loss, your own situation? Chassidus teaches that when it comes to another person's problem, ultimately he must deal with it. One can offer advice, give comfort, pray and do all that is possible to help. Finally when there is no more that can be done for another, you cry and they have to solve the problem.

When it comes to one's own situation, crying is inappropriate, it's time to do more. Things could still be done, crying is out of the question. Perhaps the next little thing you do will change the situation completely, never ever give up.

2. Josephs brothers went back home to tell their father, Jacob, that he was alive and that the entire family should come down to Egypt to be sustained by Joseph during a famine that plauged the entire region. Jacob left Hevron and traveled south to Ber Sheva towards Egypt, at which point he was close to the leaving border of Israel.

At that time HaShem spoke to Jacob in a night vision and told him not to be afraid of descending yo Egypt. The often asked question is what was Jacob afraid of? Rashi explains that he was distressed about being forced to leave Israel. Others add that our forefathers were promised that their children after them would become a great nation and that they would inherit the land of Israel. Therefore, Jacob did not want to leave. He wanted to see the fulfillment of this promise in Israel.

Chassidus asks what exactly was Jacob's fear about leaving israel, why did HaShem wait until now to comfort him and why not before he started the journey?  In addition, the verse says, "do not be afraid of descending to Egypt," no mention of leaving Israel. Hashem also said that "I shall establish you as a great nation, I shall descend with you to Egypt and I shall also surely bring you up." So the question remains, what was jacob afraid of? After all, he had received all the promises and assurances he needed.

Chassidus explains that even though Jacob knew that he would be successful in Egypt and that eventually he would be brought back to Israel, he knew that he needed to be separated from the land promised to the nation and until they would would return he would always feel distressed. Today we are in galus, exiled from Israel. HaShem has scattered us all over the world, with the promise that one day He would gather us all home to israel, the moshiach and the third temple.
We need to thus learn a great lesson from Yaakov Avinu. Although we may be successful in both material and spiritual things, we should always remain a little distressed. Yes, we were put here for a purpose and a mission, but that is not the end goal, we must always long and yearn to be brought home and the total redemption, may it be soon.

3. At the beginning of the parsha we see a confrontation between Joseph and his brother, Yehudah, over the release of their younger brother, Benjamin. The situation becomes so tense that both sides prepare for war at all costs. Each one shows his ability to destroy the other. We also see that the other brothers were willing to give their lives to free their younger brother. when joseph saw this, he realized that all the brothers really loved and cared for each other. At this point joseph could not hold himself back any longer. The next words in the Torah may be two of the most powerful words spoken. Not only powerful and emotional, but these two words brought peace, love and answered all the questions all parties had up until that point.

Joseph looked at his brothers and said, "Ani Yoseph"  (I am Joseph). Joseph said that they should not be afraid, that G-d put him in Egypt for the good, to sustain his family for a great deliverance. All the questions were answered, there was total peace and calm and all the brothers were reunited in love.

Every week, along with the Torah portion, we also read a section from the Prophets. At the end of this week's portion we read two words, Ani HaShem. When the moshiach is revealed and all of Israel is taken out of galus and brought back home to Israel, HaShem qill speak these two words and then, not only will our questions be answered, but the whole world will know that Hashem is the one true G-D.

Good Shabbos

...and remember

do one more mitzvah
learn a little more Torah
love one another
change the world

l'chaim, l'chaim
r. yaakov ephraim