Parashat Hashavua: What Will Happen in the “End of Days”? | Rabbi Yossef Carmel | Beit Midrash

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Parashat Hashavua

קטגוריה משנית

Torah Portion and Tanach
Vayechi

163

The root achar (after, end) comes up twice in our parasha (Bereishit 48:1; 49:1).
After burying Yaakov, the brothers worried that Yosef would now avenge his sale, and they turned to Yosef with a story of Yaakov’s request that he forgive his brothers. This brought closure to Yosef’s pleas for mercy to his brothers when they threw him into a pit. Later, the brothers completed their plea by falling before him like slaves and offering to be such (ibid. 50:18).
Yosef’s inspiring reaction contains five notable elements. 1) "Do not fear; am I in place of elohim (apparently meaning a dictator - ibid. 19)?" 2) He did not prosecute them, despite pointing out that they thought badly of him (ibid. 20). 3) He promised continued support (ibid. 21). 4) "He consoled them" (ibid.) = strengthening unity. 5) "He spoke to their heart" (ibid.) = further effort that proves his sensitivity. The righteous Yosef put great effort into creating family unity despite the disagreements. This ensured a future liberation for which Yosef gave the password ("pakod yifkod" - ibid. 24).
In late 5783, our nation was in a terrible way – close to a civil war. The political dispute turned into incitement and aggression. Extremism on all sides grabbed center stage; people accused the other side of being the inferior side of society (arava) and were sure they were society’s saviors (etrog). Hashem waited all of Elul (its initials hint at "each person to his friend and presents for the poor" – Esther 9:22). Instead of improvement, the shouting increased. Hashem decided to wait, in vain, until after Yom Kippur (arguably the last day of 5783). The final chance was Hoshana Rabba, after which the slate of 5783 was definitely sealed. This is the day on which even aravot are leaned on the altar, but we still failed. Instead of receiving its pitka tava, our failure turned Simchat Torah into Tisha B’Av – a day of destruction, slaughter, and terrible cruelty that befell our nation, brethren coming from all elements of society.
This forced upon us a war of no alternative, of "saving Jews from an oppressor" (see Rambam, Melachim 5:1). We "woke up" and a new spirit – volunteerism, giving, bravery, and unity throughout society’s subdivisions – filled the Land. Brave soldiers, with brave mothers, wives, and families. A strong thirst developed for a spiritual connection to the Divine Presence and His nation.
Let us do all we can to preserve this spirit. As long as war is raging, we must bury political differences and personal ambitions and focus only on saving the People and State of Israel. Elections can wait until there is quiet. Then, candidates will be judged for their degree of concern only for the klal, or Heaven forbid, whether they still stoked hatred. Eventually, everyone can return to promoting his beliefs, but with the new realization of the need to listen to others and treat them as "etrogim," even if they have elements of aravot. Unfortunately, after tremendous victories to this point with Divine Assistence, dispute and voices of extremism are returning. We must not allow them to grab center stage; all must be done with a spirit of brotherhood. May we be victorious through unity and have an "acharit" of "pakod yifkod" for good, just as we did in the past because of Yosef’s efforts. May this start with the war resulting in the manner we prayed for, and include consolation and recovery for those who have paid heavy prices.