Vayeshev: Chapter 21

"His master's wife cast her eyes"

Synopsis

This section pointedly reminds us that we must constantly be on guard to avoid being led astray by the Evil Inclination. As the Accusers assail man daily, he must cleave to the dimension and Sfirah known as Gvurah to become mightier than the Evil Inclination. As the rabbis point out, Joseph exemplifies this endeavor. He exposed himself to unfounded accusations because of the enormous care he took over his personal appearance. The rabbis next address the importance of guarding and preserving the Holy Covenant. The Covenant, we are told, upholds heaven and earth. When it is properly guarded, God showers the world with blessings, but if God's judgment finds the world full of wicked people, heaven and earth will dry up and their natural, life-sustaining functions will cease.

Relevance

A reading of this section strengthens our resistance to evil and vain impulses, and steels our resolve to pursue positive change, for the sake of our soul and for all humankind. The collective intolerant, self-centered actions of man can become so great that they create a mass of negativity that literally blocks the Light from flowing into our world. Our connection to this passage helps dissolve this blockage, to allow the penetration of the Light.

Angels Evil Evil Inclination Eyes Joseph Sin Strength Voice

210. "And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph" (Beresheet 39:7). Rabbi Chiya began the discussion with the verse, "Bless Hashem, you angels of His, you mighty in strength who perform His bidding, hearkening to the voice of His word" (Tehilim 103:20). Come and behold, a man should be very careful to avoid sinning and should walk the path of righteousness so as not to be led astray by the Evil Inclination, who daily brings accusations against him.

210. וַיְהִי אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וַתִּשָּׂא אֵשֶׁת אֲדֹנָיו אֶת עֵינֶיהָ אֶל יוֹסֵף. רִבִּי חִיָּיא פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, בָּרְכוּ ה' מַלְאָכיו גִּבּוֹרֵי כֹחַ עוֹשֵׂי דְבָרוֹ לִשְׁמוֹעַ בְּקוֹל דְּבָרוֹ. תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּמָּה אִצְטְרִיךְ לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ לְאִסְתַּמְּרָא מֵחוֹבוֹי, וּלְמֵיהַךְ בְּאֹרַח מִתְתַּקְּנָא, בְּגִין דְּלָא יִסְטֵי לֵיהּ הַהוּא יֵצֶר הָרָע, דְּאִיהוּ מְקַטְרְגָא לֵיהּ כָּל יוֹמָא וְיוֹמָא, כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר.

Evil Evil Inclination

211. Because the Evil Inclination constantly accuses him, it behooves a man to overcome it and stand firmly, SO THAT THE EVIL INCLINATION CANNOT MOVE HIM. Man must be mightier than it and be attached to the place of Gvurah ('might'), for when man overpowers it, he cleaves to the side of Gvurah and is strengthened. Because the Evil Inclination is mighty, it behooves a man to be mightier.

211. וּבְגִין דְּאִיהוּ מְקַטְרְגָא לֵיהּ תָּדִיר, בָּעֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְאִתְתַּקְּפָא עֲלֵיהּ, וּלְאִסְתַּלְּקָא עֲלֵיהּ, בַּאֲתַר תַּקִּיפוּ, דְּבָעֵי לְמֶהֱוֵי גָּבַר עֲלֵיהּ, וּלְאִשְׁתַּתְּפָא בַּאֲתַר דִּגְבוּרָה, בְּגִין דְּכַד בַּר נָשׁ אַתְקֵף עֲלֵיהּ, כְּדֵין אִיהוּ בִּסְטַר גְּבוּרָה, וְאִתְדַּבַּק בֵּיהּ לְאִתְתַּקְּפָא, וּבְגִין דְּהַהוּא יֵצֶר הָרָע תַּקִּיף, בָּעֵי בַּר נָשׁ דִּיהֵא תַּקִּיף מִינֵיהּ.

Angels Brit (Covenant) Covenant (Brit) Evil Evil Inclination Joseph Righteous Strength

212. Those who overcome it are described as "mighty in strength," as they are with their own kind FOR BY OVERCOMING THE MIGHTY ONE, THEY BECOME AS MIGHTY AS IT. These are the angels of the Holy One, blessed be He, NAMELY THE RIGHTEOUS, who come from the side of Harsh Gvurah to overcome THE EVIL INCLINATION. THEY ARE CALLED the "mighty in strength who perform His bidding" (Tehilim 103:20). "Bless Hashem, you angels of His," such as Joseph, who was called 'righteous' and 'mighty' and preserved the Holy Covenant, which was imprinted upon him.

212. וְאִלֵּין בְּנֵי נָשָׁא דְּאִתְתַּקְּפוּ עֲלֵיהּ, אִקְרוּן גִּבּוֹרֵי כֹחַ, לְאִשְׁתַּכְּחָא זִינָא עִם זִינֵיהּ, וְאִלֵּין אִינוּן מַלְאָכָיו דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דְאַתְיָין מִסִּטְרָא דִגְבוּרָה קַשְׁיָא, לְאִתְתַּקְּפָא עֲלֵיהּ, גִּבּוֹרֵי כֹּחַ עוֹשֵׂי דְבָרוֹ. בָּרְכוּ ה' מַלְאָכָיו, כְּיוֹסֵף, דְּאִקְרֵי צַדִּיק וְגִבּוֹר וּנְטַר בְּרִית קַדִּישָׁא דְּאִתְרְשֵׁים בְּגַוֵּיהּ.

Evil Evil Inclination Grades Hair Joseph Potiphar

213. Rabbi Elazar asks, What is THE MEANING OF THE VERSE, "And it came to pass after these things" (Beresheet 39:7)? HE SAYS, It has been explained that the place from which the Evil Inclination brings forth accusations is the grade CALLED "after these things." Joseph gave it an opening for accusations, so THE EVIL INCLINATION said that Joseph's father was mourning over him and that he, Joseph, adorned himself and curled his hair. Thus, it aroused against him the bear, NAMELY POTIPHAR'S WIFE, and it assailed him.

213. רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר, וַיְהִי אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, מַאי הִיא, הָא אוֹקְמוּהָ, אֲתַר דָּא דְּיצה"ר מְקַטְרֵג, דְּאִיהוּ דַרְגָּא אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים. בְּגִין דְּיוֹסֵף יְהַב לֵיהּ דּוּכְתָּא לְקַטְרָגָא, דַּהֲוָה יוֹסֵף מְסַלְסֵל בְּשַׂעֲרֵיהּ, וְאַתְקֵין גַּרְמֵיהּ, וְקַשֵּׁיט לֵיהּ, כְּדֵין אִתְיְהֵיב דּוּכְתָּא לַיצה"ר לְקַטְרְגָא, דַּאֲמַר וּמַה אֲבוֹי דְּאִיהוּ מִתְאַבֵּל עֲלֵיהּ, וְיוֹסֵף מְקַשֵּׁיט גַּרְמֵיהּ, וּמְסַלְסֵל בְּשַׂעֲרֵיהּ, כְּדֵין אִתְגָּרֵי בֵּיהּ דּוּבָּא וְקַטְרֵיג לֵיהּ.

Earth Fruit Heavens Rain Sin Wicked Wickedness

214. "And it came to pass after these things." Come and behold, when the Holy One, blessed be He, inspects the world to judge it and finds wicked people therein, then "He shut up the heavens, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not its fruit" and then, "You perish quickly" (Devarim 11:17). Because of the sins of men, the heavens and earth stop performing their natural functions.

214. וַיְהִי אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה. תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּזִמְנָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אַשְׁגַּח בֵּיהּ בְּעַלְמָא, לְמֵידַן יָתֵיהּ, וְאַשְׁכַּח חַיָּיבִין בְּעַלְמָא, מַה כְּתִיב, וְעָצַר אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְלֹא יִהְיֶה מָטָר וְהָאֲדָמָה לֹא תִתֵּן אֶת יְבוּלָהּ, וּכְדֵין וַאֲבַדְתֶּם מְהֵרָה, דְּהָא בְּגִין חוֹבִין דִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא, שְׁמַיָא וְאַרְעָא אִתְעֲצָרוּ, וְלָא נָהֲגֵי נִמּוּסֵיהוֹן כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת.

Brit (Covenant) Covenant (Brit) Heaven Heavens Rain

215. Come and behold, those who do not keep the Holy Covenant cause separation between the children of Yisrael and their Father in heaven. For it is written, "And you turn aside, and serve other Elohim, and worship them; and then Hashem's anger be inflamed against you and He shut up the heavens, that there be no rain" (Devarim 11:16-17). He WHO GUARDS NOT THE COVENANT is equal to a person who serves other Elohim, for he is false to the Holy Covenant.

215. וְתָא חֲזֵי, אִינוּן דְּלָא נָטְרוּ לְהַאי קְיָימָא דְקוּדְשָׁא, גָּרְמֵי פְּרִישׁוּ בֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל לַאֲבוּהוֹן דְּבִשְׁמַיָא, בְּגִין דִּכְתִיב וְסַרְתֶּם וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶם לָהֶם, וּכְתִיב וְעָצַר אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְלֹא יִהְיֶה מָטָר. דְּהַאי אִיהוּ כְּמַאן דְּסָגִיד לֵאלָהָא אָחֳרָא, דִּמְשַׁקֵּר בְּהַאי אָת קְיָימָא קַדִּישָׁא.

Blessing Brit (Covenant) Congregation Covenant (Brit) Rain

216. When the holy Covenant is well kept in the world, the Holy One, blessed be He, pours blessings from above, which are showered over the world, as it is written, "You Elohim, did send a plentiful rain, whereby You did strengthen Your inheritance when it languished" (Tehilim 68:10). The "plentiful rain" is a rain of favor that pours when the Holy One, blessed be He, is favorable toward the Congregation of Yisrael and desires to pour blessings upon it. Then, "You did strengthen Your inheritance when it languished."

216. וְכַד קְיָימָא קַדִּישָׁא אִתְנְטֵיר בְּעַלְמָא כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, כְּדֵין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יָהֵיב בִּרְכָאן לְעֵילָא, לְאַתְרָקָא בְּעַלְמָא, כד"א, גֶּשֶׁם נְדָבוֹת תָּנִיף אֱלֹהִים נַחֲלָתְךָ וְנִלְאָה אַתָּה כוֹנַנְתָּה. גֶּשֶׁם נְדָבוֹת, דָּא גֶּשֶׁם דִּרְעוּתָא, כַּד אִתְרְעֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בִּכְנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאלֵ, וּבָעֵי לַאֲרָקָא לָהּ בִּרְכָאן, כְּדֵין נַחֲלָתְךָ וְנִלְאָה אַתָּה כוֹנַנְתָּה.

Congregation Jacob Rain Water

217. Your inheritance is Yisrael, the inheritance of the Holy One, blessed be He, as it is written, "Jacob is the lot of His inheritance" (Devarim 32:9). The 'languishing' is the Congregation of Yisrael which languishes in a strange land. It is thirsty for water BUT CANNOT SLAKE ITS THIRST and is thus weary. With favorable rain then, "You did strengthen."

217. נַחֲלָתְךָ: אִינוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּאִינוּן אַחְסַנְתֵּיהּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כד"א, יַעֲקֹב חֶבֶל נַחֲלָתוֹ. וְנִלְאָה: דָּא כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּאִיהִי נִלְאָה בְּאַרְעָא אָחֳרָא, דְּאִיהִי צַחְיָא לְמִשְׁתֵּי, וּכְדֵין אִיהִי נִלְאָה. וְכַד הַהוּא גֶשֶׁם דִּרְעוּתָא אִתְיְהֵיב, כְּדֵין אַתָּה כּוֹנַנְתָּה.

Brit (Covenant) Covenant (Brit) Earth Eyes Form Hair Heaven Heavens Jeremiah Joseph

218. Thus, the heavens, the earth, and all their armies are all established on the principles of the Covenant, as it is written, "If my covenant be not day and night, it were as if I had not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth" (Yirmeyah 33:25). We should guard it, as has already been explained. It is therefore first written, "And Joseph was of beautiful form and fair to look upon," and then, "his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph," WHICH MEANS THAT BECAUSE HE WAS NOT ON HIS GUARD, BUT ADORNED HIMSELF BY CURLING HIS HAIR, AND WAS GOOD LOOKING AND WELL FAVORED, HIS MASTER'S WIFE CAST HER EYES UPON HIM.

218. וְעַל דָּא, שְׁמַיָא וְאַרְעָא, וְכָל חֵילֵיהוֹן, כֻּלְּהוּ קָיְימָא עַל קִיּוּמָא דָא, דִּכְתִיב אִם לֹא בְרִיתִי יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה חֻקּוֹת שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ לֹא שָׂמְתִּי. וּבְגִין כָּךְ, בָּעֵי לְאִזְדַּהֲרָא בְּדָא, וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ. וּבְגִין כָּךְ כְּתִיב, וַיְהִי יוֹסֵף יְפֵה תֹאַר וִיפֵה מַרְאֶה, וּבַתְרֵיהּ כְּתִיב וַתִּשָּׂא אֵשֶׁת אֲדֹנָיו אֶת עֵינֶיהָ אֶל יוֹסֵף.

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