Yosef returned to his family.
In last week’s Torah portion, he attempted to remove Binyamin from the family, hoping his brothers would agree to abandon Binyamin with him.
When a dispute develops within the nation, an increased tendency develops to factionalize into separate groups. But Yehuda, who felt overall responsibility for the nation, didn’t allow this to happen.
“For your servant guaranteed the young boy to my father, saying ‘If I do not bring him back to you I will have sinned to my father for all time’.” (B’reishit 44:32)
When Yosef understood that he would not be able to divide the nation, he gave up on the idea of building up Egypt on his own, completely separated from his father’s house. It could be that the reason Yosef wept in this week’s portion was that he saw that he had failed in his approach, which would have divided the family into two.
Yosef’s cosmopolitan approach, however, cannot be completely rejected. Yehuda was careful not to destroy everything that Yosef had accomplished.
According to our sages, Yehuda threatened Yosef, “If you do not return Binyamin, I will fill the markets of Egypt with blood.” But his brothers said, “Yehuda! Egypt isn’t Sh’khem! If you destroy Egypt you will be destroying the entire world!”
According to this perspective, Egypt – as the most highly developed civilization of the period – was worthy of respect and needed to be preserved. The Egyptian culture would even mold Israel in its melting pot. And that is why it is written, “Do not despise the Egyptian, for you were a stranger in his land” (D’varim 23:8).
We are tasked with gathering the holy sparks – even from Egypt.
The ideal outcome would have been for Yehuda to triumph in the confrontation, so that Yosef would prepare the path for Yehuda.
This phenomenon appears within the annals of history as two different identities of the Mashiaḥ: the son of Yosef and the son of David.
The historical process requires that the Mashiaḥ ben Yosef come first, and that the Mashiaḥ ben David will be the ultimate redeemer. All the nations will come to Jerusalem and there will be no need for Israel to go to the other nations. This is, in fact, the ruling of our ancestor Yaakov, as is written, “And he sent Yehuda ahead to Yosef, to prepare in Goshen” (B’reishit 46:28).
Yaakov showed that even when the nation is on the way to exile, the primary goal is achieved through Yehuda’s orientation.
Our exile started as follows: “And Israel traveled… And G-d spoke to Israel in visions in the night, and He said, Yaakov, Yaakov.” (46:1-2)
The Creator changed Israel’s name back to Yaakov, because he was on his way to exile and there are situations that require us to revert to the lowly position of Yaakov (the Diaspora Jew). This is a way to adjust ourselves to the conditions in exile. But the main goal remains: “Your name will be Israel” (35:10).
Yosef’s attempt to save and empower Egypt through his economic messianism did not succeed in a way that would advance the Hebrew mission. The Egyptians couldn’t appreciate him for the good that he did for them. The world will be mended only by having the Jews return to our land and creating our own nation here.
“G-d will surely remember you…” (50:25) and from here we will light the way for the entire world.
YOSEF should have better used his political power to eradicate paganism and establish Noahidism as state religion of Egypt ! Not to create a comfortable “ghetto” for Israel in Goshen and thereby missing to be a light to the peoples …. with all negative consequences later on. This same sad story was repeated e.g. in Germany& Austria 1933/38-45 and is likely to be repeated nowadays in USA – G´d forbid !
YOSEF should have better used his political power to eradicate paganism and establish Noahidism as state religion of Egypt ! Not to create a comfortable “ghetto” for Israel in Goshen and thereby missing to be a light to the peoples …. with all negative consequences later on. This same sad story was repeated e.g. in Germany& Austria 1933/38-45 and is likely to be repeated nowadays in USA – G´d forbid !