Vayeishev 5774:         Day After Day

By Rabbi Joshua (routinely known as the Hoffer) Hoffman

Dedicated by Dr. Larry Bryskin in memory of his father, Yitzchok Shlomo ben Leibel Halevi, whose yahrtzheit falls this coming week, on 23 Kislev. May his memory be for a blessing.

            The Torah tells us that Yisrael (Yaakov) loved Yosef more than all his sons, because he was a “ben zekunim” to him (Bereishis 37:3).  Although the term “ben zekunim” is usually translated as “a child of his old age” taking the root word zaken as meaning “old”, Rashi cites Onkeles who translates the term as “a wise son,” because Yaakov gave over to Yosef all that he had learned from Shem and Ever.  Actually, Shem and Ever had two separate yeshivos in which Yaakov studied Torah.  He studied in the yeshiva of Shem for many years while living in Eretz Yisroel, and then, in fleeing from Eisav, he studied in the yeshiva of Ever for fourteen years. What was unique about the yeshiva of Ever that attracted Yaakov to study there for so long, after having already studied for many years elsewhere?  Rav Yaakov Kaminetsky explained that exile presents one with different kinds of challenges than those faced in Eretz Yisroel, and the yeshiva of Ever taught Torah in a way that prepared its students to adapt properly to the new circumstances they would face in such a situation.  That is the Torah that Yaakov learned in the yeshiva of Ever, and gave over to Yosef along with the rest of his learning, to prepare him for the exile that Yaakov knew he would experience, as well as lead the way, by example, for the rest of the emerging nation.  A further look at our parsha, I believe, gives us a glimpse of the challenges of exile that Yosef and the Jewish people did indeed face.

            After Yosef was sold as a slave and taken down to Egypt, he was purchased by Potiphar, and placed in charge of his house. Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Yosef, but failed in her efforts, as the Torah says, “And so it was – just as she spoke to Yosef day after day, so he would not listen to her, to lay beside her, to be with her (Bereishis 39:10).  Rav Mordechai Rogov, in his Ateres Mordechai, cites a midrash which says that Yosef and his descendant Mordechai, faced equal tests, as we find that in regard to Mordechai, as well, Scripture says, in describing Mordechai’ s refusal to heed the words of the king’s servants to bow down to Haman, “Now it happened when they said to him day after day and he did not listen to them (Esther 2:4). The midrash says that Yosef and Mordechai were also given similar positions of greatness, as both of them were presented with the monarch’s ring.  Rav Rogov asks why the mere similarity of the words – day after day – indicates that the tests were equal.  After all, we are dealing here with real life situations, and not just word associations. 

            Rav Rogov explained by giving the example of a religious Jew who is constantly urged by others to work on Shabbos.  At first, he completely rejects the suggestion.  However, as people continue to bother him about it, and tell him that he must provide for his family, his resolve could perhaps weaken.  Although Rav Rogov does not mention it, his example brings to mind the story of a Rosh Yeshiva, who visited the United States in the early twentieth century, and witnessed a Jewish shopkeeper doing business on Shabbos. The first time he saw it, he fainted from shock.  In subsequent weeks, however, the shock was diminished, until he became used to the scene and was able to carry on without major disruption. Yosef and Mordechai, however, although challenged daily with attempts to compromise their observance of mitzvos continued to react in the same adamant way, without change.  As a result, they were both given the further challenge of serving in high positions in government, having demonstrated that they would be equal to such a challenge, and maintain their spiritual integrity without change.  In this way, they served as examples for all Jews in exile to follow, similar to the manner in which Yaakov, in working faithfully for so many years while living in Lavan’s house, served as an example for Yosef, and went on to teach him how to adopt the Torah of Ever, which equipped him to deal with a similar challenge.