Parashat Vayigash

Yehuda began his case for the defense of Binyomin. "And Yehuda came close to him [Yosef] and said "Please, my master, let me say something to you personally. Do not be angry with me ..." (44:18)

How is it possible for a Jew to approach Hashem to pray to the Master of all things, One before Whom all angels shudder and shake, a lowly mortal that he is should be able to pray directly to Hashem?

The answer is "And Yehuda came close to him". How can we come close to Hashem? By drawing attention to the masterful strength that Hashem implanted within us with which we praise Him. We can then speak personally to Hashem and He won't be angry with us for He desired to favour us and it is for that purpose of recognizing His greatness and glory, that He created us. (Rav Moshe zt"l of Kobrin)

Yehuda tells Yosef that of all of Rochel's children "he [Binyomin] is the only one left ..." (44:20)

When Yehuda says that Binyomin is the only one left, he uses a word possessing the root "Nosar". When Yaakov presented the same argument before Binyomin left home, he used the word "Nish'or" to describe the fact that Binyomin was the only one "left". Why did Yehuda use one verb form and Yaakov the other?

The difference between Nish'or and Nosar is that when talking about something important we use the word "Nish'or" and when discussing something unimportant we use the word "Nosar". Binyomin was very beloved to Yaakov and Yaakov therefore, uses the word Nish'or to describe Binyomin. However, Yehuda has had so much trouble already because of the sons of Rochel and therefore, Binyomin was a large liability for him, somewhat of a nuisance. Therefore, he described Binyomin using the form of Nosar. (HaK'sav V'HaKabolo)

Yosef said to his brothers upon revealing to them his true identity "I am Yosef, your brother. You sold me to Egypt." (45:4)

Is this the way to try to restore brotherly relations between them by reminding them of the evil which they did?

In reality Yosef was saying to them, "Do not think that my descent to Egypt caused also a descent of my spirituality. Rather, I am Yosef your brother, the same Yosef which you sold. You did not cause me to be affected adversely." (The Rebbe zt"l of Kotsk)

Yosef continues "Now, do not feel sad ..." (45:5)

"Now" denotes returning to Hashem. (B'reishis Rabbo 21:6) This is because when one returns to Hashem he no longer has his evil past, he only has a present.

Yosef was hinting to his brothers that they must return to Hashem and rectify the wrong that they had perpetrated. However, the t'shuva that they must do must not be with sadness but with joy. (The Holy Rebbe, Rav Avrohom zt"l of Slonim)

"... Hashem has sent me ahead to save lives (L'Michyo)." (Ibid.)

Yosef was 17 when he was sold and died when he was 110. Therefore, he spent 93 years in Egypt. This is the g'matria of L'Michyo. He was not only sent to save lives in the physical sense, by supporting them and providing for their needs. Also in a spiritual sense, his holiness and his ability to remain steadfast before temptation paved the road for B'nei Yisroel to guard themselves against immorality while they would be in Egypt. (Imrei Yitzchok, by Rav Yitzchok Knobel shlito, a former Rebbi in our Yeshiva)

"You will be able to settle in the Goshen district and be close to me ..." (45:10)

If a person wants to be at peace with his relatives he should try to live far away from them. Yosef said, "If you live in Goshen, you will thereby feel close to me." (Rav Meir zt"l of Premishlan)

Describing the entourage with whom Yaakov descended to Egypt "His sons and grandsons were with him. He also brought his daughters, his granddaughters, and all his offspring to Egypt with him." (46:7)

Everybody was with Yaakov, none of them became a stranger to him or his ways. Unlike Avrohom from whom Yishmoel was born or as Yitzchok from whom Esov was born. (Rav Shamshon R'foel Hirsch zt"l)