There is a viral video that has spread all over of a soldier coming back from Gaza after 70 days and surprises his father. His father is shocked to see his son and of course gives him a big hug, and afterwards, he said “Shema Yisrael, HaShem Elokeinu, HaShem Echad,” and he took this moment of excitement to pray for all the soldiers in Gaza.
Of course, this meeting reminds me of the meeting between Yaakov and Yosef after 22 years. We can only imagine the excitement the father and son had after not seeing each other for so many years. But, a deep look into this reunion raises a few questions.
When Yosef got ready to greet his father, the Pasuk says, “Yosef harnessed his chariot and went up to meet Yisrael his father in Goshen. He appeared before him, fell on neck, and wept upon his neck excessively.” The Torah says he prepared his horses and chariots in order to give respect to his father. It looks like the Torah focuses more from the perspective of Yosef than from Yaakov’s perspective. Yosef is the one that falls on his neck and cries, but where is Yaakov’s reaction in this story? Why doesn’t say that Yaakov cried and fell in his neck. After all, Yaakov was the one who had constantly mourned his son for 22 years.
Rashi addresses this question and quotes the Midrash that says that Yaakov didn’t fall on his neck and kiss him because he was reading Shema. Can’t Yaakov find a better time to say Kriyat Shema? Couldn’t he have said it before his meeting with Yosef, or after? What about Yosef? Why didn’t he recite Kriyat Shema?
The answer is that Yaakov purposely read Kriyat Shema at that point. Naturally, when we meet up with friends after many years, and we miss them, the love and excitement we have in that moment goes out to them. Yaakov preferred to take this great love and burst of motion and direct towards HaShem, and this is why he read Kriyat Shema. From Yosef’s side, he also left his own emotions aside and focused on maximizing his father’s happiness.
The Maharam explains that this is one of the reasons we say a Bracha before we eat. Of course, the simple understanding is that it belongs to HaShem, and we have to ask permission from Him before eating. But, based on what we learned, Chazal want us to get used to thanking HaShem and that whenever we might have a human desire or pleasure, we must immediately acknowledge the giver and thank HaShem before indulging in it.
All this story of Yosef’s separation from Yaakov and their meeting is just a micro version of the real story of the father and his lost children. Am Yisrael is in exile and is also separated from their father, so to speak. We also miss our father and wish to reunite with him forever. Before Yaakov goes down to Egypt to meet his son, HaShem reveals himself to him, telling him not to fear from going down to Egypt, because He will be there with him, and take him out from there. This is a great sign for us, the Jewish people.
Wherever we are or may be, HaShem will always be there with us and lift us out, whether it is our general exile as a nation, or each individuals personal challenges, HaShem is there and will raise you from there. Just as Yosef was taken out from the pit, we will also be taken out from our difficulties very soon,
Amen. May you all have an easy and meaningful fast.
Rabbi Tal