I Swear It On My Very Soul; If I Lie May I Fall Down Cold (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "Reuben and Cerise")

          Every religion, every society acknowledges the importance of making a vow, or swearing an oath, or “giving one’s word”. To accept a vow, oath, or another person’s “word” was a demonstration of trust, an act of faith that the other person would keep their vow, oath, or word. Without a mechanism for people to trust business would cease to occur, relationships would end,  and anarchy would reign. Where society and religions differ is the premium place upon the vow, oath, or a person’s word. The Judeo-Christian and Muslim cultures and traditions consider vows and oaths tantamount to invoking God’s name and violating an oath or a vow, therefore, is tantamount to “Taking God’s name in vain”. For the less observant or those who don’t affiliate with a religion, a violation of an oath or a vow destroys a sacred trust. In a democratic society, trust is the lubricant,  that allows governments to govern. When the populace doesn’t trust its institutions there is chaos. Certainly, that is what we have watched occur in the United States over the past several years. Sadly, over the past week, once again we witnessed, elected officials who swear an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic…” fail to live up to that oath. A former Chief of Staff and former congressman who swore such an oath decided to protect and defend a former president instead of the Constitution. An entire political party, except for a handful of Congressman and Senator have pledged their fealty to authoritarianism instead of fulfilling their vows and oaths to the Constitution.  

          This morning we read from Parsha Vayechi. This is the final Parsha in the book of Breishit. 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 grandsons 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 Heron alongside Avraham and Yitzchak and Sarah Rebecca and Leah. Afterward, 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. 

          Yaakov’s final dying wish is to be buried in Canaan, in the Caves of the Machpela with his ancestors, Avraham/Sarah, Yitzchak/Rivka, and Leah his wife. Yaakov shares this wish with Yosef. Given his position within Egypt, Yosef would be the most likely of the sons who would be able to arrange this final wish. After sharing his final wish with his beloved son Yosef; Yaakov asks Yosef to swear to him that he will carry out this final 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 explains that the statement: Anochi Eseh M’Atzmi – I will take care of it myself suggests there is no need for swearing an oath. Rav Ovadia Sforno – the 16th Italian Renaissance Torah Commentator adds a more in-depth comment over 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 a built-in excuse 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 his 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 to have to rely solely upon his own relationship with Pharaoh. Pharaoh will understand a son swearing an oath to his dying father and would never refuse a request of that nature. As a son, as a free person, as the second most powerful person in Egypt, Yosef is only bound by his conscience. He is free to question. The Malbim, the 17th-century commentator explains that Yosef was acting as a son should be bound by filial piety and integrity.

          There are moments where one’s own volition is not enough in fulfilling a final wish. Yaakov makes Yosef swear the oath because he wants Yosef to acknowledge an authority greater than his own. He also wants Yosef to acknowledge an authority greater than Pharaoh. Yaakov wanted Yosef to be completely powerless and act solely on behalf of his father. Under normal circumstances, according to ChaZaL – our Talmudic sages of Blessed Memory, the acceptance of Torah and its commandments are an acknowledgment and acceptance of an external authority greater than ourselves. Intrinsic to that acceptance is a humbling awareness that we are not all that powerful or in control of every aspect of life. As more and more information comes becomes public about the January 6th Capitol Hill attack and attempted coup, it becomes more and more clear, that numerous people who had sworn an oath to the U.S. Constitution, due to political expediency, violated that oath and pledged fealty to authoritarianism. They continue to do so to this day. Unfortunately, history provides many examples from the last century when elected officials violate their oaths, trust wanes, institutions cease to function and authoritarianism wins the day. Hopefully, bringing light and attention to that day will remind elected officials of the importance of their oaths, vows, and keeping their word to support and defend.

Peace 

Rav Yitz