the challenges he faced in Mitzrayim was the time to figure out if it was really necessary.

The Art of Forgetting cheshbon hanefesh, a daily accounting of his

Yosef Hatzaddik Overcomes the Challenges of Mitzrayim
By Rav Moshe Shternbuch
The following was
written by Rabbi Daniel
Yaakov Travis based on a
drasha given on leil Shab-
bos by Rav Moshe Shtern-
buch, Rosh Av Beis Din of
the Eidah Hachareidis of Yerushalayim.
•••••
AWAY FROM HOME
“And Yosef called his firstborn Menashe
[explaining that] ‘The Almighty has made
me forget all of my toil, and all of my father’s
house’” (Bereishis 41:51).
Yosef Hatzaddik had endured a lot of hard-
ship in his life. After his own brothers sold
him into slavery, he was resold many times,
pursued by Potifar’s wife, and finally thrown
into a dungeon, where he languished for many
years. Apparently, the source of his strength to
go on was the unshakable emunah he had im-
bibed from Yaakov Avinu in his youth.
Yet we find that Yosef called his firstborn
son Menashe, because he “forgot his father’s
house.” Considering the outstanding chinuch
that Yosef received from his father, why would
he choose such a name? Shouldn’t he have ex-
pressed anguish at his disconnection from his
father’s home?
Yaakov Avinu educated the young Yosef to
be a tzaddik and to live a life of complete holi-
ness. However, as an adult, Yosef found that
the Almighty had placed him in a position of
great governmental power and prestige. This
was nothing like the lifestyle for which Yaa-
kov Avinu had groomed him.
Yosef understood that if the Almighty had
made him Paroh’s prime minister, this was
surely His will. But how could he reconcile
himself to the fact that the destiny the Al-
mighty had chosen for him was so vastly dif-
ferent from what his beloved father Yaakov
had envisaged?
Yosef Hatzaddik had to rise to the challenge
and change his attitude to become what was
expected of one of Paroh’s inner circle. The
only way that he could successfully accom-
plish this was to “forget” what he learned in
his father’s home. He accepted this challenge
and was able to adapt to this position as No. 2
in Mitzrayim.
LIFE AFTER DEATH
At the end of Maseches Tamid, it states, “If
a person wants to live, he should kill himself.”
The commentators struggle to understand this
baffling statement. How can life come through
causing one’s own death?
The Brisker Rov explains that a person may
encounter terrible and arduous trials in this
world. In such cases, if he focuses on the pain
he is experiencing, he will not be able to get
on with life. Under such conditions, he has no
choice other than to “deaden” himself in order
to do what is necessary to survive, despite the
excruciating pain.
Although the Brisker Rov was able to es-
cape the slaughter of the Holocaust, his wife
and three of his children suffered brutal deaths.
After such a shattering loss, the pain was over-
whelming. The only way that the Brisker Rov
could continue with life was to separate from
the feelings of the past and start afresh in the
present.
Rav Eliyahu Lopian explained that even
the greatest tzaddikim have difficulty making
this break from their emotions. Rav Yochanan
experienced overwhelming trials. All 10 of his
sons died young, and he would carry around
the bone of his tenth son in order to comfort
Although a person is obligated to do hishtadlus
to get what he needs, he must be very careful
about relying on hishtadlus too much.
others in their distress.
Yet, the Gemara at the end of Maseches
Sanhedrin quotes Rav Yochanan as saying,
“Let Moshiach come, as long as I do not have
to see the suffering [that will accompany
Moshiach’s arrival].” Rav Yochanan could
not bear the thought of the great desecration
of the Almighty’s honor that would take place
at the End of Days. Even Rav Yochanan could
not separate his feelings of pain from his great
longing for Moshiach.
During World War II, a Jew traveled from
Eretz Yisroel to England. Rav Moshe Sh-
neider, Rav Shternbuch’s rosh yeshiva, hurried
to speak to this Jew, in order to hear what was
happening to the community in Eretz Yisroel.
When Rav Shneider hard that Jews in Yerusha-
layim were desecrating the Shabbos, he began
to sob uncontrollably.
The next morning, he called Rav Shtern-
buch and told him, “Rav Moshe, did you hear
what is going on in the Palace of the King?
Who can imagine the great anguish of the
Shechinah that there is chillul Shabbos in
Yerushalayim. After hearing about this, I was
not able to sleep the whole night.”
For a true servant of his Creator, the experi-
ence of spiritual anguish is deep and excruciat-
ing. This gives us some insight into the emo-
tions that Yosef was prone to in Paroh’s palace,
and yet he did not succumb to them. Yosef
Hatzaddik was able to separate his emotions
from his actions and conduct himself impec-
cably as a servant of his true King.
Even when his heart was stirred by seeing
his brothers after so many years of separa-
tion, Yosef was able to control his feelings and
speak to them harshly. Once Yosef had made
up his mind that he would serve the Almighty
no matter what, no obstacle was too great.
DAILY ACCOUNTING
Another tool that helped Yosef overcome
deeds. The Zohar writes that there is a special
place in Gan Eden for morah dechusbana,
people who undertake a regular cheshbon
hanefesh. Every night before going to sleep,
a person should think through the day and
consider whether aspects of his conduct need
improvement.
The Torah writes that everyone left the
house of Potifar and left Yosef alone. Targum
Onkelus reveals the deeper meaning in these
words. Each day, when Yosef Hatzaddik was
alone, he performed a cheshbon hanefesh.
While in jail, Yosef asked Pharoh’s stew-
ard to have mercy on him, and to intercede
on his behalf for his release. Perhaps Yosef
relied on the steward more than was neces-
sary and thought that he would bring about his
release. Therefore, he was punished with two
extra years in jail. Yosef recognized his error
through his cheshbon hanefesh and immedi-
ately did teshuvah for his lack of trust in the
Almighty.
Although a person is obligated to do
hishtadlus to get what he needs, he must be
very careful about relying on hishtadlus too
much. The Vilna Gaon believed that a person
should trust fully in the Almighty and, when
possible, avoid doing anything. His students
reported that they saw constant miracles living
their life in this manner.
Although the Brisker Rov is known for be-
ing a Torah giant, Rav Shternbuch said that his
level of trust in the Almighty was even more
remarkable than his scholarship. Before un-
dertaking any worldly endeavor, he would take
The Brisker Rov felt that any action which
could be avoided pulled him away from his
complete trust in his Father in Heaven.
BEYOND HISTORY
As we read Sefer Bereishis, we sail through
thousands of years in a three-month period.
When learning these parshiyos, we must not
fall into the trap of regarding them as a quick
review of Jewish history. The main focus of
these parshiyos is to teach us yiras Shomayim.
At the end of Megillas Esther, it is written,
“And the King Achashveirosh decreed a tax on
the land and the islands of the sea. And all of
the acts of his power and might, and the full
account of the greatness of Mordechai which
the king advanced him is written in the book of
chronicles of kings of Madai and Paras.” This
is apparently superfluous information. Why is
it important that we should know this?
Rav Chatzkel Abramsky explained that if
one is looking for historical documentation,
the place to find it is not in Megillas Esther.
Rather, one should look in the chronicles of
Paras and Madai to find all of the historical
details. The Megillah, like the account of the
Avos and Yosef and the rest of the Torah, is
here only to teach us how to be true servants
of the Almighty.
•••••
Rav Shternbuch’s shiurim on the parsha are
being prepared to be published as a sefer. For
information about dedication opportunities,
contact dytravis@actcom.com.
•••••
Rabbi Travis is a rosh kollel of Kollel Toras
Chaim in Yerushalayim, and is the author of
Shaylos U’Teshuvos Toras Chaim and “Pray-
ing With Joy - A Daily Tefilla Companion,”
a practical daily guide to improving one’s
prayers, available from Feldheim Publishers.
For more information about his work, contact
dytravis@actcom.com.

(Continued from Page 41) in Israel as “M’Manhattan El Har Sinai.”

in peace. Roy can be reached at roy@tosinai.com
The brothers will be one and the name or at www.tosinai.com.
of G-d will be One. (Endnotes)
May we see it soon in our days! 1 Gevuros Hashem from the Maharal
••••• of Prague, as found in the Haggadah Shel
Roy Neuberger’s third book, “2020 Pesach LehaMaharal.
Vision” (Feldheim Publishers), is avail- 2 Bereishis 45:3
able at all Jewish book stores. Roy is also 3 Heard from his son, Rav Aryeh Mal-
the author of “From Central Park To Si- kiel Kotler.
nai: How I Found My Jewish Soul,” and 4 Bereishis 45:1
“Worldstorm: Finding Meaning & Direc- 5 Ovadiah 1:17, Haftaras Vayishlach
tion Amidst Today’s World Crisis.” From 6 Rashi on Bereishis 30:25.
Central Park To Sinai has just been re- 7 Bereishis 2:23
leased in Hebrew by Feldheim Publishers 8 Tehillim 126

8 Teves 5770 • December 25 2009 YATED NE’EMAN Page 43