Language of the Heart

Parashat VaYigash


Bereishit 44:18 "...May your servant say something into the ear of my master."

With these words Yehudah began his request to Yosef. He wanted to ask for amnesty, and therefore he wanted to speak directly to Yosef and not through an interperter. However, it would seem that they did not know each other's speech. Beforehand, all the conversations between them were communicated through an interperter. How, then, did Yehudah expect to make himself understood to Yosef without an interperter?

The Gaon of Brisk said that this question recalls a story about the Chofetz Chaim who once appeared before the Prime Minister of Poland to request cancellation of a decree from the Polish Ministry of Education which was very troubling to all the Torah leaders at the time. The words of the Chofetz Chaim flowed from his warm and pure heart as he spoke to the gentile Prime Minister in Yiddish. In the midst of speaking the Chofetz Chaim became very emotional and he began to cry.

One of those who accompanied the Chofetz Chaim arose to translate, but the Prime Minister signalled him to be quiet and said, "It is not necessary. Although I did not understand a word, he has convinced me because these words came from his heart."

The language of the heart is understood in every language. It does not need elaboration or translation. It was with this language that Yehudah wanted to convince Yosef.

-Ma'alot Hamidot

The Dream Interpreter - Parashat MiKetz

"Pharoh said to Yosef, "I've had a dream, but there is no-one to interpret it. But, I've heard it is said about you with certainty that you listen to a dream, (understand it, and are able to) interpet it." Bereishit 41:15

And then there was the time that there lived an extremely hospitable man, Reb Yankel, who greatly enjoyed providing comfortable lodgings and delicious meals to the poor people passing through his village. If that wasn't enough, he also sent his guest away with a generous amount of money to help them on their way. Unfortunately, Reb Yankel had one glaring character flaw. That is, he would always applaud himself for his generosity and ask others, "Wasn't that great of me?"

Word of Reb Yankel's great generosity and also his boastfulness reached the Baal Shem Tov. Realizing that Reb Yankel's conceit greatly reduced the worthiness of the wonderful mitzvah of honoring guests, the Baal Shem Tov sent his student Reb Zev Kotses on a mission to rectify the situation.

"Reb Zev," said the Baal Shem Tov, "just go to Reb Yankel's and act as if you are a wandering beggar. Accept his hospitality and the right thing will happen. And if he wishes, please bring him to me.

Just before Shabbos, Reb Zev wandered into Reb Yankel's little village. It wasn't too long before he was provided comfortable lodging and hospitality for Shabbos at Reb Yankel's home.

After Reb Zev was settled, Reb Yankel inquired, "Don't you think I'm a remarkable host?"

Reb Zev answered, "We'll see."

After a delicious Shabbos meal, with plenty of L'Chaims (drinks of alcohol), talks of Torah and singing, all of the guests went to sleep in a large room set aside for that purpose. Reb Yankel had the custom of sleeping in the room among his guests. After Reb Yankel had fallen asleep, Reb Zev reached over and touched his hand.

Just then, Reb Yankel had an intense dream. In the dream, a King came to visit him. He treated the King with his usual generosity. While they were eating and talking, the King suddenly slumped over and died. The King's attendants grabbed Reb Yankel and locked him in the King's prison on the charge of poisoning the King.
The situation looked bleak, when suddenly a fire broke out in the prison and Reb Yankel escaped. He traveled for many days and finally ended up in a remote village where he became the water carrier. Being that this village had many wells and several streams, Reb Yankel could barely make a living. Then one day, he fell while carrying two pales of water across his back. He broke both of his legs and was in such intense pain that he couldn't move. Suddenly, he remembered how he had once been a rich man and began to cry.

Just then, Reb Yankel awoke with a start. When he realized he was safe and comfortable in his own bed, he nearly fainted. When he saw Reb Zev staring in his eyes, he blurted out, "Oh my Heavens! I just had such a vivid, scary dream."

Reb Zev said, "If you want to, tell me about it."

After Reb Yankel told him the entire dream, he asked, "What do you think it means?"

Reb Zev answered, "I'm not sure, but I think my rebbe, the Baal Shem Tov could interpret it for you."

So as soon as Shabbos was over, they traveled together to Medzibush.

Reb Yankel met the Baal Shem Tov and told him all the details of his dream. When Reb Yankel asked for an interpretation, the Baal Shem Tov explained, "When G·d comes to you in the form of guest, He can't remain in your presence because of your pride. So He allows His servants to threaten and punish you. But before anything really bad happens, He allows you to escape because of the merit of your mitzvah of hospitality. Nevertheless, because of your conceit, spiritually you are like an extremely poor, suffering man."

When the Baal Shem Tov finished, Reb Yankel cried out, "Oh Rebbe, please help me!"

With the help and instruction from the Baal Shem Tov, Reb Yankel was aroused to repent. He returned to his home free of his pride and he continued to do the great mitzvah of hospitality.

And so it was.

-Freely adapted by Tzvi Meir HaCohane (Howard M. Cohn, Patent Attorney) from a story in HISGALUS TZADIKIM as translated in STORES OF THE BAAL SHEM TOV by Y. Y. Klapholtz.

Yosef - The Blessed River

"Behold, out of the River there emerged seven cows, of pleasing appearance and healthy flesh, and they were grazing in the marshland." (Bereishit 41:2)

The Zohar discusses Pharaoh's dream, in which he saw seven fat cows emerging from the river, which were swallowed by seven emaciated cows.  He then saw seven sheaves of full healthy stalks of wheat which were swallowed up by seven sheaves of withered and emaciated wheat.

The only image in Pharaoh's dream that is not interpreted by Yosef is the river. The river is taken to mean the Nile, which was the source of sustenance for all of Egypt.

What is the meaning of the river in Pharaoh's dream?

It is the river from which all of the levels below are blessed, because this river is drawn down and goes forth to irrigate and nourish them all - Yosef is the river for whom all of Egypt was blessed.

(In Kabbalah, the river that sustains all of the lower levels is the attribute of Yosef - the sefira of yesod of the world of Atzilut, which draws down the waters of the world of Atzilut into Beriya.)

The Jewish people came down to Egypt to elevate the holy sparks that fell into the physical world when the world of Tohu shattered. This is what was being shown to Yosef in Pharaoh's dreams.

-Ramaz