Sicha, Shabbos Parshas Chayei Sara 5736,
Sicha, Shabbos Parshas Vayigash 5734,
And Sicha, 8th night of Chanukah “Rally” 5734
A. What caused the descent of the people of Israel to Egypt
Joseph’s brothers plotted to kill him. Reuben suggested throwing him into a pit, intending to return later and rescue him, but in practice, in his absence, Joseph was sold into slavery (Source 1).
The sale of Joseph—because of which Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt—constitutes the root of the Egyptian exile, from which all subsequent exiles developed. This is also reflected in the fact that the Ten Martyrs were killed as punishment for the sin of selling Joseph (Sources 2–3).
The reason Reuben’s plan failed is that he left the scene to engage in repentance for having disturbed his father’s household, and did not remain to guard Joseph (Sources 4–5). It emerges, then, that the sale of Joseph, and as a result the exile to Egypt and all the exiles that later came upon Israel, stemmed from the fact that Reuben occupied himself with fasting instead of staying to protect Joseph.
From here, we learn a fundamental lesson: when the rescue of a Jewish child is at stake, one must set aside all other pursuits—important and elevated as they may be—and ensure that the child is saved.
A person might argue: it is enough for me to be righteous like Reuben, who chose to engage in repentance. Why should more be demanded of him than of Reuben? The answer is that in Reuben’s time, the concept of mutual responsibility among Jews had not yet been fully established, but after the giving of the Torah, an obligation rests upon every individual to leave everything to save a fellow Jew (Sources 6–7).
B. Everyone has an important role
A Jewish child may think they has no ability to make an impact while living in exile, but from Joseph we learn exactly the opposite. Joseph understood that his descent to Egypt was intended to save his family and the entire region (Source 8). In the same way, children living in exile were sent there in order to influence their peers and spread light further, and through this we will emerge from exile.
Joseph sent wagons to his father, thereby alluding to the final subject they had studied together, which had remained engraved in his memory for many decades. This brought about the revival of his father’s spirit (Source 9). The message we learn from this is that we must study with vitality and intensity so that the learning remains engraved in our memory for many years. Just as Joseph revived his father in this way, so too the study of Torah and its influence on others in exile bring life and bestow blessings upon those who study.
C. The power of a baby girl
The descent of Jacob and his sons to Egypt marked the beginning of the general exile, whose purpose is to refine the world and prepare it for redemption. For this reason, the children of Israel descended to Egypt, numbering seventy souls—corresponding to the seventy nations of the world—to refine the entire world.
Here, a remarkable idea is uncovered: the completion of the number seventy was achieved through the birth of Yocheved as they entered Egypt (Source 10). This teaches the immense value of a Jewish girl, who has the power to bring about the completeness of the entire people of Israel.
The principle that the deeds of the fathers serve as a sign for the children teaches that everything that happened to Jacob grants strength to his descendants in every generation. From the story of the completion of the number seventy souls, we learn that every Jew can bring the entire people of Israel to completeness by fulfilling his or her unique mission, which begins from the moment of birth, when all the necessary abilities are granted.
