Parshat Mikeitz 5784
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week’s parsha, that when Pharaoh heard about Yosef and his ability to interpret dreams, he had him extracted from the pit, cleaned up, and sent to him. The pasuk says (Chapter 41, Pasuk 14) וישלח פרעה ויקרא את יוסף ויריצהו מן הבור. He sent for Yosef and pulled Yosef out from the pit. The term ויריצהו used by the Torah is somewhat unusual. Why is this term used to describe Yosef being extracted from the pit?
Targum Onkelos uses the term וארהטוהי to explain the word ויריצהו. He seems to explain the word ויריצהו as being from the word רצ, to run, as this is the meaning of the Aramaic root רהט. According to this explanation, Yosef was rushed out of the pit. The Seforno understands this pasuk in the same manner and teaches that we learn from here that salvation from Hashem happens in a split second. In a similar manner, Bnei Yisrael were rushed and chased out from Egypt when the time of the Geulah came, as the pasuk says (Shemos, Chapter 12, Pasuk 39), כי גורשו ממצרים.
Yonoson Ben Uziel explains the pasuk in a similar manner. In one version, he explains the word ויריצהו to mean ודלוגיה; to skip or jump over, as the pasuk says in Shir HaShirim (Chapter 2, Pasuk 8), מדלג על ההרים. His explanation certainly references Pesach and the concept of Hashem quickly bringing a miracle and skipping over the Jewish homes, as the pasuk says (Shemos, Chapter 12, Pasuk 27) ואמרתם זבח פסח הוא לד' אשר פסח על בתי בני ישראל. We are commanded a Karban which is called Pesach to commemorate Hashem skipping over the homes of Bnei Yisrael. And this Karban is eaten quickly, as the pasuk says (Chapter 12, Pasuk 11) ואכלתם אותו בחפזון פסח הוא לד', to commemorate the haste with which Hashem took Bnei Yisrael out of Egypt.
In a similar vein, Yosef’s removal from the pit was done in a skipping and running manner. The Maharal explains in his sefer on Purim, Ohr Chadash, that every Geulah happens very quickly since, being a miraculous event, it is above and beyond the normal restrictions of time. This is why Bnei Yisrael were chased out of Egypt and Haman was rushed from place to place when the miracle happens in Megillas Esther.
Similarly, Yosef being extracted from the pit was his miracle and salvation. The Zohar Hakadosh learns the word ויריצהו from the word רצון. Yosef was very down and distraught about his low situation. And then when Pharaoh took him out there was רצוי; Yosef was appeased and happy. He understood that being in the pit was a necessary stage he needed to go through in order to ultimately be saved and redeemed. When Yosef left the pit, he went on to greatness and stature in Egypt, enabling Bnei Yisrael to come down to Mitzrayim and begin galus Mitzrayim. And going down to Egypt and ultimately being redeemed was necessary for Clal Yisrael.
The Gemara in Berachos 5A teaches that Hashem gave three gifts to Clal Yisrael, Torah, Eretz Yisrael, and Olam Haba, all of which are acquired only with suffering. Rav Tzadok teaches that the different exiles Bnei Yisrael endured were necessary for these gifts. Bnei Yisrael received the Torah, Torah Shebichsav, only after experiencing Galus Mitzrayim. Torah Shebe’alpeh, whose essence is based on the holiness of Eretz Yisrael, was acquired through galus Bavel and Yavan. The light of Torah Shebe’alpeh lit up the darkness of galus Yavan in Eretz Yisrael, and spread to Bavel. And the final exile, the galus of Edom, is a preparation for the days of Mashiach and Olam Haba.
The Zohar points out that Yosef’s personal exile began in a pit, as we read in last week’s parsha (Chapter 37, Pasuk 24) וישלכו אתו הברה; they threw him into a pit. And his rise to fame as the supporter of the land begins in our parsha with his leaving the pit, ויריצהו מן הבור. The Sfas Emes teaches that a pit can represent a dark place of desire, of the yetzer hara. But it can also represent a place of water and sustenance, a place of Torah, as the pasuk in Mishlei states (Chapter 5, Pasuk 15), שתה מים מבורך; drink the waters of your pit. With the proper Avodah and Emunah, we can transform the pit of destruction to a pit of salvation, as experienced by Yosef. May we be zocheh to leave our present state of galus and sorrow, and merit to the salvation from Hashem of ויריצהו; may it be in a split second and pleasing to all of us.
Good Shabbos
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