Parshat Mikketz, “Careful
Split-Thinking” - The essence of chari tzut, decisiveness, is carrying through on a
decision made while considering the needs of others, in all the vari ous ways that can be meant. Our
deliberations and our follow-through on a decision must include consideration
of the others to be impacted, and ideally, should include ways in which we lift
up their burdens at the same time as we act in accordance with the best we have
the potential to be.
We see perhaps the finest example
of this in Joseph's response to his brothers’ appearance before him in this
parshah. Encapsulated in the verse, 'vayaker
Yosef et echav v'hem lo hikiruhu' - 'Joseph recognized his brothers but
they didn't recognize him' is the birth of Joseph's decision as to how to act
towards his brothers.
We can posit that years of
refining and improving his character, years of imagining all the ways in which
he might deal with such an encounter, years of deliberating, as it were,
resulted in Joseph's being able, in that instance, to set upon a plan by which
he might act, over time, to lift up his brothers' burden of guilt and help them
on the path to teshuvah, and finally
to the ultimate redemption for the Jewish People as well.
And we see the fruits of this
decision on Joseph's part when he finally does reveal himself and says, 'ki l'michyah sh'lachani Elohim lifneichem',
'for to save life did God send me before you,' Joseph's decision is shown
to have no enmity and no vengeance to it, but only a spirit of true concern and
understanding for his family and how to help them.
May we all grow to be as able as
Joseph was, to maintain ourselves and our way of thinking and being, so that,
seemingly instantly, we can make the decisions that help and lift up others,
and in so doing, achieve God's purpose for our lives and the world as well.
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