| "And Yosef brought their evil report to their father." In Parashat Vayeitzei it says that when Yosef was born, Yaakov was ready to return home because the adversary of Esav had been born. Yaakov represents wisdom—the sun. Although he is called tam and is described as a "dweller of tents," he is connected to the highest wisdom. But in order to fight Esav, he needed Yosef—someone who could use Esav's tools for holiness. Esav's role is to accuse: constantly searching for reasons why the Jewish people do not deserve blessing, why the brachot should not be theirs, pointing out their faults and sins. Yosef took Esav's role of accusation and elevated it to the side of good. When a Jew practices hitbodedut—begging, crying, pleading to Hashem: "What is my purpose in this world? Why did You create me? Look how improperly I behave, how much anguish I cause You…" —this is the highest form of prayer, bringing the greatest pleasure to Hashem. This is what the parshah is teaching us: Yosef came to his father—the higher wisdom—and said, "Look at how they behave… look at where they fall short." Not to speak badly of them, but to fight Esav, the true evil. In other words, Yosef took Esav's tool of criticism and transformed it into a yearning to come closer to Hashem—so that wisdom would illuminate the path for them to return to Him and do what is right in every situation. We must learn to do the same: to sincerely plead and "report" our own shortcomings before Hashem, until we merit to return to Him with true teshuvah. Amen. Shabbat Shalom |
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