Page 42 - HaMizrachi #33 Sukkot 2021 USA

Our
Ushpizi

yosef

Spiritual Guarantor

Rabbi Heshie Billet

ccording to the Midrash, presence would protect them on their indicate that Hashem will remember
the sukkah represents the journey home. the Jewish people and take them out
protection G-d provided the Unfortunately, after Yosef’s death, of Egypt. Indeed, G-d tells Moshe to use
AJewish people in the desert the people did not always follow his these very words when speaking to the
in the form of miraculous pillars of guidance. “And the children of Israel people: “Go and assemble the elders of
clouds that surrounded the Israelite were fruitful, and increased abun- Israel and say to them: Hashem, the G-d
camp. At the same time, the people also dantly... and the land was filled with them.” of your fathers, the G-d of Avraham,
required physical huts to protect their (Shemot 1:7) According to the Netziv, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, has appeared to
bodies from the extreme weather of these words imply that the Jewish me and said, ‘I have taken note of you and
the desert. people built homes all over the country, of what is being done to you in Egypt’”
among the Egyptians. “The Children of (Shemot 3:16).
During their forty years of wandering,
these safe barriers shielded them from Israel violated the dictum of Yaakov, Ramban explains that Yosef gave his
the dangerous spiritual environment who wanted them to be a nation apart brothers this phrase to pass on to
from the Egyptians. That was part of
they encountered among the surround- their downfall in Egypt!” future generations, indicating that
ing nations. This heavenly assistance when the redeemer comes, he will use
gave the people strength to persevere At the end of his life, Yaakov gathers this phrase.
and ascend to Eretz Yisrael. his children, blesses them, and reminds Maimonides (Laws of Lulav 5:12) writes
them of his desire to be buried in the
The Netziv writes that Bilaam’s descrip- family’s ancestral cemetery in the Cave that while we are commanded to
tion of Israel’s social isolation in the of Machpelah. This was after Yaakov rejoice (ה ָח ְמ ִׂש) on all holidays, we are
desert conforms with Yaakov’s desire had already made Yosef swear that he, commanded to experience “extra joy”
ׂ
that his offspring be separated from Yosef, would make this happen and (ה ָר ֵתְי ה ָח ְמ ִש) on Sukkot. This extra joy is
intellectual and social interaction with attend his father’s funeral in person. due, in large part, to Yosef’s contribu-
alien cultures: “I see them atop rocky Yosef learned an essential lesson from tions, for he guaranteed our religious
crags, and from cliffs I behold them; a his father. Despite the affluence and survival in exile and inspired our
nation that lives alone and is oblivious comforts that he and his family enjoyed yearning and commitment to return
to the other nations” (Bamidbar 23:9). in Egypt, Egypt was not the ultimate to Israel. What a joy to welcome him as
Similarly, Yosef wisely kept the Jews destination. Eretz Yisrael was where an honored guest in our sukkah!
apart from the Egyptians in Egypt. It they belonged! And so Yosef, at the end
was Yosef who suggested that they of his life, conveyed the same message
live in Goshen. He guided his broth- to the Jewish people: “Yosef said to his
ers on how to speak with Pharaoh to brothers, ‘I am about to die. G-d will
ensure the Egyptian king would grant surely take notice of you and bring
them this land. He built a “sukkah” you up from this land to the land that
around them to protect them from He promised in an oath to Avraham,
the decadent Egyptian culture. More to Yitzchak, and to Yaakov.’ So Yosef
than anyone, Yosef fulfilled Yaakov’s made the sons of Israel swear, saying,
wish that his family be separate from When G-d has taken notice of you, you
Egyptian society. At the same time, shall carry up my bones from here” Rabbi Heshie Billet is a past president of the
he taught his people that Egypt was (Bereishit 50:24–25). Rabbinical Council of America, and served
merely a stop on the road back to In both of these verses, Yosef uses as rabbi of Young Israel of Woodmere before
Canaan, and promised them that G-d’s the term “take notice” (דֹק ְפ ִי דֹק ָּ פ) to making Aliyah.

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