Well,
we are in the final week of 2017. It seems that three main themes have captured
the fancy of media. First, every news show and every sports show has done the
proverbial "look back at 2017."
Both highlights and lowlights are re-lived in the form of a top ten
list. Second, because we are concluding one year and about to begin a new year,
advertiser focus upon the theme of resolutions. Of course, the two biggest
resolutions are weight loss and exercise. As a result, we have become acutely
aware of the weight loss companies offering special programs in order to join
their weight loss program. Also, we have noticed numerous pieces of exercise
equipment and gadgets on sale. Several
psychologists were interviewed explaining that the number one cause of people's
failure to fulfill their resolution is that the resolution itself was
unrealistic and too big. Instead of setting a goal of losing 60
pounds over the course of a year, maybe a more realistic goal would be 25-30
pounds. Or, instead of looking at the resolution and
becoming daunted by its enormity; break down that resolution into manageable
parts. Losing 5 pounds each month (60/12) is much more manageable than focusing
on 60 pounds. As I was on the elliptical machine, I began to think about
resolutions in general and specifically the similarities and differences
between resolutions and vows/promises. The biggest difference, of course, is
that a resolution does not seem to be binding like a vow or a promise.
Nevertheless, a resolution does indicate a conscious decision focused upon
one's self as opposed to a promise or a vow to another.
This
Shabbat, we read from Parsha Vayechi. This is the final Parshah in the book of
Bereishit. The Parsha begins with Yaakov calling Yosef and making him
swear an oath that he will not be buried in Egypt. He also blesses his
grandson’s Ephraim and Menashe. He gathers his sons together and offers each
son a blessing or a prophecy. Yaakov dies and his sons take him out of Egypt
and fulfill their vow. They bury their father in Hebron alongside Avraham and
Yitzchak and Sarah Rebecca and Leah. Afterwards, the brothers fear that Yosef
will finally take vengeance for their mistreatment of him. Yosef doesn’t, and
the brothers and their families continue to grow and prosper in Goshen. As
Yosef prepares for his death, he makes his brothers vow to take his bones out
of Egypt and bury his bones in Eretz Canaan.
Sharing
his dying wish with Yosef is not enough. Yaakov wants Yosef to swear an oath
that he will fulfill his father’s final dying wish. To demonstrate one's
"swearing a vow," Yaakov tells Yosef: Im Nah
Matzati Chein M’Einecha If now I have found grace in your eyes Sim Nah
Yadcha Tachat Yereichi put, I pray of you, your hand beneath my thigh v’Asita
Imadi Chesed v’Emet –, and deal kindly and truthfully with me. However,
Yosef does not do as his father asks; Yosef does not put his hand beneath his
father's thigh as an indication of swearing an oath. Rather, Vayomer [Yosef] said, Anochi Eseh Chidvarecha
– I personally will do as you said.
The text clearly conveys that Yosef did not make a "vow" to Yaakov.
Yosef did not put his hand beneath his father's thigh as an indication of
making a vow. Rather his said that he would take care of the matter personally. Rabeinu Chananel, a tenth-century Egyptian
Talmudic commentator, briefly and succinctly that Anochi Eseh M’Atzmi – I will take care of it myself
hence there is no need for swearing an oath. Rav Ovadia Sforno – the 16th Italian
Renaissance Torah Commentator adds a more in-depth comment on the fact that
Yosef did not at first swear an oath to Yaakov's final request. Anochi Metzad Atzmi Eseh Kidvarecha B’Chol Chai – As far as I
am concerned, I will do as you say with all my power. Yosef's response
suggests an out in case he cannot fulfill the dying wish. "I will do
everything in my power" suggests that if Yosef entreats Pharaoh to let him
bury his father in Canaan, and Pharaoh refuses; then Yosef still fulfilled his
father's final wish since Yosef did everything he could. Yaakov senses he hesitation and tells Yosef: Hishava Li –
Swear to me, Vayishava Lo – and He
[Yosef] swore to him [Yaakov]. Yaakov
does not want any excuses nor does he want Yosef relying solely upon his own relationship Pharaoh.
Pharaoh will understand a son swearing an oath to his dying father and would
never refuse a request of that nature. However Yosef is not a servant, he
is the second most powerful person in Egypt and he Yaakov’s favorite son. As a
free individual, Yosef is only bound by his conscience. He is free to question.
The servant, on the other hand, has no such ability. He is bound to fulfill his
obligations whether forced or unforced. The Malbim, the 17 th-century commentator, explains
that Yosef was acting like a son should. Yosef was trying to act out of filial
responsibility, based upon his own free will rather than a servant who is bound
by oaths.
It
appears that there are moments where one’s own volition is not enough in
fulfilling a final wish. So Yaakov makes Yosef swear the oath so that way when
dealing with Pharaoh it is clear that he is acting as a servant to his
father. Yaakov wanted Yosef to be
completely powerless and act solely on behalf of his father. Under normal
circumstances, according to our ChaZaL – our Talmudic sages, we are already
bound by Torah; there is no need to accept artificial/external bonds. The bonds
of Torah and mitzvot should be enough. The bonds of Torah and mitzvot are designed to
be reachable goals, objectives that require a little effort but are all within
the realm of the possible. There is no
need to pile on and make observance more difficult and more taxing. So I
finished my final workouts of 2017 feeling better about myself, knowing that my
vow to lose weight has been fulfilled and now I have the much more difficult
vow of maintenance.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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