In this week’s parsha, we are told the climax of the story of Yosef. From being sold by his brothers, to being in the house of Potifar, to going to jail, he is now Pharaoh’s right hand man, his second in command.
In this parsha, Yosef finally reveals himself to his brothers, not being able to keep it within him any longer. In chapter 45, verse 3, Yosef reveals himself by simply saying, “I am Yosef. Is my father alive?”
Chazal say in Chagiga that Yosef’s brothers were so overwhelmed that they were unable to even answer him.
“Rabbi Eliezer, when he reached this verse, would cry. He would say, ‘If when one is rebuked by flesh and blood, the verse states, ‘And his brothers could not answer him because they were afraid of him,’ then how much more so is this true with the rebuke of HaShem?'”
Many achronim wonder how this can be. Where is there rebuke in this sentence? All he said was “is my father still alive?” He made no mention of the fact that they sold him. The Malbim says that these words are indeed reprimanding. He is saying, “How could you not have been concerned with our father?” The Beis Halevi takes this idea further by saying that Yosef was answering Yehuda, who had been asking for mercy on Benjamin for Yaakov’s sake. “Are you asking for mercy? How is it that you were not concerned about Yaakov’s life when you sold me?”
The Kli Yakar continues further, explaining that Yosef stressed “my father” and not “our father.” He also simply said “I am Yosef,” not, “your brother.” They were afraid he would not treat them like brothers. In only five words, Yosef had indeed rebuked them. How much more so is this true with the rebuke of Hashem? The brothers knew they had wronged Yosef. He didn’t need to say anything for them to feel this way. If an important person were insulted, there would be no need for them to specify what one did wrong; they would know. All this person would have to do is say “I am so-and-so!”
Just by saying their name, they stress that they should have been given respect. How much more so will this be so with the rebuke of Hashem? In the World to Come, when we see our life, we won’t even need to be told that we’ve done wrong. We will be standing right in front of Hashem Himself!
We should remember to always treat one another with respect, and as it says in Tehillim 16:8, “Shiviti Hashem L’negdi Tamid,” know Hashem is with us and watching us always.
