In this week’s perasha, the shevatim, called Shivteh Ya/ tribes of God, sell their brother Yosef. We know that they had a Bet Din and they judged Yosef as rodef But the question is, why did they have to cause so much pain to their father, by saying that Yosef died? Why not just sell him into captivity and say he's lost? Why did they have to come in with his blood-stained coat and make like he was dead?
The Sefer Mikrei Aviv says an unbelievable thought- The knew their father Yaakov as the epitome of Bitachon. We say,
Yisagev Hashem Elokei Yaakov-
Yaakov is the one who has God as his fortress. He always relies on God, even in the most difficult of situations. He's the one that said Me’Ayin Yavoh Ezri? Ezri M’Im Hashem/
He’s on the level that he considers it a lack that he's asking, how Hashem would help him. And he answers,
Hashem made the Heaven and earth- I don't have to figure out ways for God to help me.
How am I going to get my wives without any money? God will figure it out.
So if Yaakov Avinu were to hear that his son was lost, no problem. He’d rely on Hashem and get Yosef back.
But the shevatim didn't want him to come back, because they felt he wasn't supposed to come back. Therefore, the only way to do it was to tell Yaakov Avinu that Yosef was dead. If he was dead, that would be it (They didn’t think as far as Tehiyat HaMetim).
So we see the tremendous Bitachon of Yaakov Avinu, and also that the shevatim understood how Yaakov lived.
Another thought in the Perasha:
The pasuk says, Vayeshev Yaakov/And Yaakov sits, which comes right after the story of Esav, with his list of Alufim/ strong men.
What's going on? Why is Yaakov sitting now?
The midrash says that this comparable to someone who saw a bunch of dogs,
got afraid, and sat down amongst them. What does that mean? The Kedusha HaRim says that when someone's afraid, the only way to get get over the situation is to strengthen his bitachon. You have to say, “I'm not running away. I'm going to stay put right here. I'm not running from the dog. I'm going to sit down and just be there with a calm state of mind, relying on Hashem that everything will be good.”
And that's what Yaakov Avinu did. He didn't run away. He sat down.
This is the theme of the upcoming Hanukah holiday. The Sror Hamor asks why Hanukah is called Hanukah. How does that describe the holiday?
Purim describes the holiday. Pesach describes the holiday. Shavuot describes the holiday. Succot describes the holiday. How did the 25th day of Kislev become a reason for the holiday's name? And he says that the כה refers to 25 letters in the pasuk of Keriyat Shema, because that's how the war was won- through the Emunah and Bitachon of the Maccabim, which, as we know, stands for
Mi Kamocha B’Elim Hashem
Who is like You among the strong ones, Hashem?
They knew the power of Hashem and that's what brought them success.
Finally, Yosef HaSadik was the hero of the Parasha-It says God was with Yosef, the Shechina was on him.
But isn’t there a rule that the Shechina only dwells on person if they’re b’simcha/happy?
The Ktav Sofer says, Yes. Yosef HaSadik knew that everything was happening for the good. He was happy even though he was in jail. He was happy while in captivity, because he knew Hashem was the One that put him there.
This is the theme. It's Yaakov Avinu, it’s Yosef HaSadik, it’s the Hashmona’im… This is the Jewish way, the way of bitachon.
Have a Shabbat Shalom and enjoy the upcoming holiday of Hanukah.