Vayigash - I'm So Lost Without YOU!

Vayigash  - I'm So Lost Without YOU!

December 18/19, 2015  Tevet 6/7, 5776

(Gen. 45) 1Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, "Make everyone leave my presence!" So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh's household heard about it. 3Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.

4Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that G-d sent me ahead of you. 6For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be ploughing and reaping. 7But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8"So then, it was not you who sent me here, but G-d. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 9Now hurry back to my father and say to him, 'This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don't delay. 10You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me- you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.' 12You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly." 14Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and he really cried hard, and Benjamin embraced him, also weeping! 15And he kissed all his brothers and cried over them. Afterwards his brothers finally talked with and to him.

After this, Joseph's brothers prepared to return to their father's house. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey.

25So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26They told him, "Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt." Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. 27But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 Jacob said, "I'm convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."

 Now Jacob and his family moved out of the land of Canaan and headed for Egypt. Jacob offered a sacrifice along the way, and G-d spoke to him, saying, "I am G-d, the G-d of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph's own hand will close your eyes." (Gen. 46:3,4)

After a VERY long journey, Jacob and his family arrived in the land of Egypt. How happy Jacob (the Father) was to see his beloved son Joseph after so many years! Thus Jacob (aka Israel) and his family settled in Egypt, in the region of Goshen. There they increased greatly in numbers and became a very large family!!!..... Jacob lived in Egypt for seventeen years. In all, he lived to be 147 years old. That’s a hundred and svansick and something plus!...Thus, Jacob, the father of the tribes of Israel, died, and went to be with G-d. Joseph and his brothers, and all the people of Egypt mourned for him for seventy days. Jacob's sons buried their father in the land of Canaan, in the tomb of Abraham, his grandfather.

We all must really look and feel the meaning in our hearts, and look with in ourselves, deep, deep into our very own souls about our lost relationships.  A true and a sincere process is needed.

    

When Oprah was doing her daily talk show a few years back, she explained about family values and true humanity, and was definitely known for family reconciliations, reuniting child and parent, brother with brother, sister with sister, sister with brother, grandparents with their own children’s children…… and for ALL of us TV viewers to experience with tears of joy!    I ASK YOU, IS THIS A MODERN DAY EXAMPLE OF JOSEPH AND HIS BROTHERS?  Makes one really think!

We all have experienced separation from family/friends for many reasons, and for the most part,we ALL lose the loving benefit of another human being when their presence is lost due to this kind of separation.  Sometimes our own ego is a major road block (or theirs), other times, forgiveness is not practiced, and you isolate yourself from 'THAT' person, be it a sibling, parent, your child, or a dear and loving friend! Do we get in our own way? Maybe, Maybe not?  Obviously, it depends on each individual circumstance.

As humans, do we ask ourselves, "What may I do to rectify this relationship (if it is rectifiable) and do the work to a healthy relationship together.    IS THIS A MODERN DAY EXAMPLE OF JOSEPH AND HIS BROTHERS?

Today, Social Media has most definitely helped with reconciliation ; Ah, Facebook suggested  a "friend", as he/she is a friend of a friend, again on social media.  Maybe just the icebreaker 'we' need from time to time.  Social Media has also reunited old friends that lost touch because of geography, or lost love interests, or even has played an internet 'matchmaker'.  It is NOT the perfect solution, but our modern day technology has assisted in RE-connecting or reintroducing lost connections!

We should all take a true & sincere insightful look into our own souls, into our self-beings, as it just may help us along with our personal growth path and relationships with others, and coupled with learning Torah, we're on our way!!!!

Written with love