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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The verse found in Bereishis 45:1, describing the scene of
Yosef finally disclosing his true identity to his bothers, is translated in
various ways.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>What was Yosef’s plan about making his disclosure to
his brothers? Was he INTENDING to do that NOW or at a later stage when he would
call them in to a private audience?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Rabbi A Kaplan, The Living Torah offers the following
translation:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Joseph could not hold in his emotions. Since all his
attendants were present he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence.”
Thus no one else was with him when Joseph revealed himself to his brothers.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>In the notes he offers from the Radak, “He could not
tolerate everyone standing over him”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>JPS 1962 offers:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Joseph could no longer control himself before all his
attendants and he cried out, “Have everyone withdraw from me.” So
there was no one else about when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Rabbi Dr H Freedman explains, “Only the presence of
his attendants had forced him to that iron self-control which he had had to
exercise until now”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>And “The moment of recognition was too sacred, too
precious and too intimate for any outsider to share it”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Both these approaches, and this appears to be the very
common understanding of the event, focus the discussion about Yosef. It was
Yosef who was overwhelmed and could not control himself.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Rashi however, presents a different perspective. “He
could not bear the thought that Egyptians should observe his BROTHERS being
ashamed as he (Yosef) discloses his true identity”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>According to Rashi, Yosef was fully in control of himself
and had planned to make his disclosure at this point and in this manner. It was
only at the last moment that he reconsidered his strategy because he felt so
badly for his brothers’ humiliation although he had first planned this
for that particular purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Yes, Yosef was planning tough love for his brothers, for how
else would they recognize their failings and correct them?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Rashi is not just suggesting a possible interpretation. Rashi
is compelled to address a problem in the wording of the Passuk. The difficulty
that Rashi is attempting to navigate is the wording of the Passuk, “Yosef
was unable to bear TO all those standing by him.” Therefore Rashi breaks
that part of the Passuk into two parts,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>1) Yosef could not bear the thought of making his disclosure
now as he planned to<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>2) Yosef was troubled that his brothers would be humiliated
because of the strangers who were there and would witness the BROTHERS’
discomfort and revelation of their inadequacies. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Was Yosef right for changing his mind? Perhaps his first
planned strategy would have been more successful in getting them to face the realities
of their perfidy. As the events testify, they never accepted their true guilt
and, as we mentioned in previous discussions, died without forgiveness and this
led to exceedingly tragic consequences.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>This failure lowered the noble standards and expectations of
this majestic people. It legitimized maintaining cold war feuds and not bending
oneself and HUMILIATING oneself to attain forgiveness and mollify those victims
who can only truly forgive when they are convinced of the sincere nature of the
apology and request for forgiveness. Look at the world today, have abused
children been mollified? Have victims of war and terror been appeased? Are
victims who are found deserving in our court system and I might say with great
sadness, in our Beis Din system, provided with sincere apologies and
expressions of regret?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Gd waited for many generations for the sons of Israel to
learn these important lessons but finally without us making these critical
discoveries and implementing changes in our manner to combat this weakness, Gd
acted, as is remembered in our liturgy, by torturing the martyrs. It is not an
everlasting mutilation that disfigures us but it is a long lasting ugliness
that we are yet to address and which must preceded and prepare the path for the
arrival of the Moshiach.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Meir Rabi</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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