31 Dec VAYIGASH: BENEFITS OF SUFFERING

It states (45:1) “Yosef
couldn’t restrain
himself in the presence
of all who stood before
him…”
The Sfas Emes notes
that it seems that Yosef
wanted to conceal his
identity from his brothers
a little longer, but he
simply couldn’t contain
himself anymore. But if
he could contain himself
a drop longer, he would
do so. It would be better
for the future of Klal
Yisrael, and there wouldn’t be a churban Beis
HaMikdash.
After revealing himself, Yosef cried on
Binyamin’s shoulders for the two Batei
Mikdash that would be built on Binyamin’s
portion and would be destroyed, and Binyamin
cried on Yosef’s shoulder for Mishkan Shilo
that would be built on Yosef’s portion and
would be destroyed (see Rashi 45:14). Yosef
and Binyamin met after years of separation.
We would expect a more joyous get-together.
Why was it that the first thing they did was
cry?
But this is because the root of the churban

happened just then. Yosef revealed his identity
to his brothers early, and if it weren’t for this,
the churbanos wouldn’t have occurred. The
root of the churbanos just occurred, and
therefore, they cried at this time.
This is a reminder that every difficulty has a
purpose. Every tzaar and hardship saves us
from much greater troubles. The brothers
were in tzaar as they stood before Yosef, and
Yosef claimed that he would imprison
Binyamin. This tzaar saved Klal Yisrael from
a lot of tzaros. If Yosef could conceal himself
a drop longer, it would have been so good for
them and Klal Yisrael.
This reminds us that every tzaar has a
purpose, and even if presently we don’t
understand how and why it is good, one day
we will look back and understand.
Yaakov began his trip to Mitzrayim. It states
(46:1) “Yisrael set out with all that he had, and
he came to Beer-Sheva where he sacrificed
korbanos to the G-d of his father, Yitzchak.”
Rashi and the Ramban address why
specifically Yitzchak is mentioned in this
pasuk. The pasuk could have stated, “He
sacrificed korbanos to the G-d of his fathers,”
and both Avraham and Yitzchak would be
included.
The Be’er Mayim Chaim writes, “It is known

that Yitzchak represents the attribute of din, of
strict justice. It was time to praise Hashem for
the din he exercised because it was all for the
good. Hakadosh Baruch Hu did only good for
him.”
Yaakov suffered immensely when he lost
Yosef, but now he realized that it was all in his
favor so he could be supported during the
hunger years. Chazal say, that if it weren’t for
Yosef, Yaakov would be brought down to
Mitzrayim in chains, like a slave. Yosef’s stay
in Mitzrayim enabled Yaakov to come to
Mitzrayim in honor. Therefore, Yaakov
praised Hashem, the G-d of Yitzchak. He
realized that the din and hardships were also
for his good.
The Be’er Mayim Chaim writes that this is
also the meaning of the pasuk (Tehillim
118:21) “I thank You for You have afflicted
me and became my salvation.” He thanked
Hashem for the afflictions because from them
came his salvation.
The Be’er Mayim Chaim writes that there
are different types of yesurim.
One form of yesurim is to increase reward in
Olam HaBa. “It is certain that all yesurim in
this world are very worthwhile when it results
in a moment of experiencing the rays of the
Shechinah in Olam Haba.”

Another form of yesurim is to remove
aveiros so that he won’t need the punishments
of Gehinom. “One moment in gehinom is
certainly worse than all yesurim in this
world… One thousand yesurim in this world
is better than the punishment of gehinom.”
Another benefit to yesurim is that they
remind a person to do teshuvah.
“Sometimes, Hashem decrees to give
goodness to a person, and the goodness comes
down first in a negative form. The person
thinks it is bad for him, but as time passes, he
will see that it was a great favor for him. This
happens sometimes…”
This is what happened to Yaakov and Yosef.
It appeared that it was for the bad, but they
eventually saw how it was all for their good.