Parshas Vayigash

" I can't believe how much that guy who was rude and didn't pay the
storekeeper fits my description. It's unreal that someone resembles me so
much and even went to the same store about the same time."
"Take a look in the mirror, I think you'll see him."

When Yosef, as the ruler of Egypt, revealed himself to his brothers,
they realized that they had sinned. Rav Dovid Bleicher, zt"l, one of the
Navardocker Roshei Yeshiva, says that it was amazing how many clues the
brothers missed that they were dealing with Yosef.(See Biraishis 42:7- 45:3)
He explains that since the awareness that Yosef was in front of them spelled
their guilt, subconsciously they were never able see it. No one is inclined
to see their own faults !!

We ALL can improve our ways. Let's be more receptive to those signals
that let us know.

Have a great Shabbos !!

Rabbi Chaim Flom
______________________________________________

Quote "We ALL can improve our ways. Let's be more receptive to those signals
that let us know."


How could Yosef have improved his ways?

quote:

Originally posted by Rabbi Flom:
Parshas Vayigash
. it was amazing how many clues the
brothers missed that they were dealing with Yosef.______________________

Dear Rabbi Flom,
What were the signs that the brothers were dealing with Yosef that they should have recognized?
Thanks
Tzivy

quote:

Originally posted by Raybin:
Quote "We ALL can improve our ways. Let's be more receptive to those signals
that let us know."


How could Yosef have improved his ways?

I was talking about the brothers, not Yosef.

quote:

Originally posted by T Rogofsky:

quote:

Originally posted by Rabbi Flom:
Parshas Vayigash
. it was amazing how many clues the
brothers missed that they were dealing with Yosef.______________________

Dear Rabbi Flom,
What were the signs that the brothers were dealing with Yosef that they should have recognized?
Thanks
Tzivy

Dear Tzivy,
Thanks for your note.
(1) Rashi on 37:3 says that Yosef looked like Yaacov. So even though Yosef left home without a beard and now had one, with his beard he should look like Yaacov. (Actually, I heard a very cute vort on this. When Yosef revealed himself, the posuk says the brothers "could not answer him because they startled at his presence(mipanav)". Literally mipanav means from his FACE, so someone said that they were startled because it was exactly like the face of Yaacov!!)
(2) In 43:33 the brothers were "amazed" that Yosef had them seated according to their ages.(And Rashi says he even mentioned their names.) (And if you would say that maybe he knew this data because of some immigration records when they came to Egypt, then the brothers had no reason to be "amazed".)
(3) In general, when times are tough, people's eyes should be very open to try to figure out what's going on.
I hope that this is helpful.
Rabbi Flom

quote:

(And if you would say that maybe he knew this data because of some immigration records when they came to Egypt, then the brothers had no reason to be "amazed".)

As mentioned in another thread, simply the names perhaps could have been learned from the city entrance records (which are mentioned in the midrash) however the information of order of births according to mother could not have been learned from those records.

Dear Rob,
Actually, even if the immigration records would have had all the information, the point is, that the brothers were shocked and couldn't understand how Yosef knew, so they should have thought that something was fishy.(When a secretary asks a stranger his name,buzzes the boss that Mr. Cohen is coming in, and the boss says "Hello Mr. Cohen"---If Mr. Cohen is not suprised that the boss knew his name. it's because he knows about intercoms. If he is shocked that the boss knows his name,that means he doesn't know about intercoms, and should try to figure out how the boss knew. The brothers were shocked.)
Take care. I always appreciate your comments.
Rabbi Flom