Vayeishev: L’ iluiNishmas Avraham Zev ben Yaakov – Dr. Abe Chames
Chofetz Chaim on Parshas Vayeishev
The Chofetz Chaim tells us that the events which begin in this week’s parshah and continue for the next few weeks, hint to the future of Klal Yisroel. Yosef, more beloved to Yaakov than any of his brothers, was forced to leave his father’s house and his birthplace in his prime years, sent to a foreign land and into the hands of a lowly nation. Yosef’s brothers strove to eradicate any memory of Yosef forever. Yet, as the parshah continues, we see that despite all their efforts, the opposite occurred; Yosef achieved renowned success. The Chofetz Chaim emphasizes how indeed it was the seemingly “bad” events that Yosef experienced that ultimately raised him to the loftiest levels of peace and success. He sustained all the lands during the years of hunger and people came to bow down before him.
The Chofetz Chaim explains how the same thing will occur with our oppressed nation, Klal Yisroel, in the future. When the honor of Hashem is finally revealed, we will discern how all those difficult and challenging times we experienced in our Galus, exile, ultimately served as the cause for our exaltedness. To support this important and encouraging principle, the Chofetz Chaim quotes a verse in Tanach: “V’amarta bayom hahu od’cha Hashem ki anafta bi” - You will say on that day, “I thank You, Hashem, for you were angry with me” (Yeshayah 12:1).
As a Jewish nation we have suffered through particularly hard times. However, armed with the teachings of these parshiyos, these experiences enable us to ultimately reach an exalted state and face the tough periods with courage and appreciation.
Good Shabbos! |
