The Bais HaLevi zt"l asks why Chazal refers to Yosef's statement that "I am Yosef. Is my father still alive?" as rebuke, when upon examination we do not find Yosef chastising his brothers at all? What was the powerful message in Yosef's statement that caused the brothers to become speechless and frightened?

The Bais HaLevi explains that the Hebrew word for rebuke, tochahcha, implies the act of convincing and persuading. Proper rebuke is attained when it causes the person receiving the reproof to realize on his own that his action was wrong.

Yosef indirectly rebuked his brothers that their actions were spurned by impure motivations. Yosef accomplished this by inquiring from his brothers regarding his father's welfare, even though they had already informed him that Yacov was alive. Yosef thereby demonstrated to his brothers the falseness of their claim towards him. For when the brothers pleaded with Yosef not to enslave Binyomin because Binyomin's loss would cause Yacov's death, Yosef "reminded" his brothers that this alleged concern for Yacov did not play a role when he was sold into slavery by them.

The statement of "I am Yosef. Is my father still alive?" was a refutation of the brothers' concern for their father's well being. The brothers immediately understood that they had acted improperly towards Yosef and as a result were unable to speak at the thought of their transgression.

The Bais HaLevi explains the Midrash's statement of "what will become of us when Hashem will rebuke each of us according to his character?" in a similar vain. Man will be rebuked in Heaven in the same way in which Yosef rebuked his brothers. Hashem will show a person that his logic did not play through in all circumstances, only in chosen situations that were to his benefit. Man will then understand and realize, holding his head in shame, the wickedness of his ways.

The Bais HaLevi extends this idea in a lesson to us. On the Day of Judgment, Hashem will confront man and say, "When you failed to give charity, you claimed that you had difficulties with making a living. If this was the case, how did you have enough money to spend on amusements and pleasures?" By rebuking man "in accordance with his own deeds," Hashem will make it quite clear that man's excuses for his improper conduct were lame.

It is difficult to understand why Yosef and Binyomin would be weeping, while the other brothers were in a state of euphoria and rejoicing upon discovering that Yosef was alive and well in Egypt.

Rabbi Yechezkel MeKuzmir zt"l states that the answer can be found by examining the cause of Yosef's sale. Although the motivating factor for the brothers selling Yosef was their judgment on him of being a rodef (Sforno) or false prophet (Ibn Ezra), their hatred and jealousy of Yosef's "elite status" blinded their natural feeling of compassion for Yacov and Yosef, which would have prevented them from implementing their verdict on Yosef.

Through prophetic vision, Yosef and Binyomin knew that the Holy Temples and the Mishkan would be destroyed due to this same baseless hatred of a Jew towards a fellow Jew. At this moment of meeting, Yosef and Binyomin wept because they knew, prophetically as well, that generations later the Jewish people would fail to purge themselves of the destructive force of baseless hatred and jealousy, causing once again annihilation and devastation to be brought upon them.

It is imperative that this cancerous force be eradicated from the Jewish People. How can this mission be accomplished? Once again Yosef and Binyomin, through their weeping for the other's misfortunes, provide us with a timeless lesson. The cure for the disease of baseless hatred and jealousy is baseless love. When a Jew is more distressed from others' sorrows and troubles than his own, he has indeed attained the level of loving for no specific reason.

Every generation which passes without the rebuilding of the Bais Hamikdash has failed to cleanse B'nei Yisroel of baseless hatred. It is our duty to regard the happiness of our fellow Jew as if it is our own joy. Once we have accomplished this, the ruinous force of baseless hatred will dissipate, and we will merit the building of the Bais Hamikdash. "And Yosef said to his brother's, 'I am Yosef. Is my father still alive?' And his brothers could not answer him, because they were frightened in his presence" (Vayigash 45,3).

TABLE TALK

THE DILEMMA
(What is permitted to do in this situation?)

If any of the passengers had witnessed the accident, were they obligated to speak up when the driver of the car made his query?

Does the fact that the driver of the car may summon the witness to a secular court, rather than a Jewish Court, factor into the answer?

(Consult your Rav for a proper halachic ruling)

Last week's clues and answer: My existence is mundane but spiritual; I am not equal; When it comes to a mitzvah everyone holds by me; I help safeguard your observance - A shamesh

Congratulations to Rabbi Avrohom Adler, Sheera Krainess and the Solomon brothers

TORAH RIDDLE

Which mitzvah only applies to someone who is sitting, reclining or lying down?

(Please send us your answer by e-mail to gkrainess@adelphia.net. The answer will appear in next week's issue)

Last week's question and answer: How is it possible for a woman to have two husbands at the same time? If a man said to a woman "you are betrothed to me from now and after thirty days" and then another man came before the end of the thirty days and betrothed her to be effective immediately, the halacha is that she is betrothed to both men and therefore needs a get from both (Mishna Kiddushin 58b).

Congratulations to Rabbi Avrohom Adler

THE KOLLEL FAMILY

MAZEL TOV

Rabbi & Mrs. Shlomo Moerman on the marriage of their granddaughter

Mrs. Elliot Dickman on the passing of her father

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

The Cedar-Green Community Kollel Friday Evening Parsha Classes will convene this week at 8:00

*The Huntington-Green Apartments

Rabbi Levi's group……….Contact Rabbi Levi 381-1617
Rabbi Nadoff's group……Contact Rabbi Nadoff 291-2692
Rabbi Newman's group….Contact Rabbi Newman 381-4497
*University Heights………..Contact Rabbi Charlop 291-8981

(Please inform us if you wish to have a happy or solemn occasion or a community or personal event posted on the Community Bulletin Board - Thank you.)

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