Parshat Vayigash
by Rabbi Sholem B. Hecht
MANY A SOUL
The themes of family unity, pride and strength, and the problems of jealousy and intra-family hatred are something that we find throughout the book of Bereshit, starting at the beginning of Bereshit with the story of Cain and Hevel, going through the story of Leah and Rachel and, finally, reaching the high point in the story of Joseph and his brothers, when Joseph was sold into slavery because of the jealousy of his brothers.
In the portion of Vayigash, Yaakov makes a decision to descend to Egypt with his family, following the plan of the A-mighty, as first explained to Avraham in the prime covenant, that the children of Avraham would be sojourners in a land not belonging to them and that they would be enslaved and oppressed and only then would they be freed with an outstretched arm and uplifted with a strong hand. The next step in this world drama of the Jewish people was the descent of Yaakov and his children to Egypt. In describing the details of the story to us, the Torah uses the term, Nefesh, the singular form, for soul or person when it speaks of 66 members of Yaakov's family going with him to Egypt. Then, again, in the next verse, the term Nefesh is used when speaking of Yoseph and his children in Egypt. Why the use of the singular?
Jealousy Absolved
Here, the Torah shows us that despite the fact that there was jealousy, hatred and divisiveness among the brothers an an earlier time, after Joseph revealed himself to his brothers and showed them that he did not bear any grudge against them and that he was not intent upon getting even, then the brothers ‘feeling of jealousy for Joseph was completely obviated and they returned with their father and their families to Egypt as one "Nefesh", as one united family with a true sense of brotherhood. The truth of the matter was, that whereas when Yoseph was a child and related his dreams to his brothers, they had only to be jealous of his dreams. Now, that he had realized his dreams and had attained true greatness, riches and power, it was all the more reason for them to be jealous!? Nevertheless, from their own bitter experiences and the suffering of their father and the family, which had come to be because of their jealous acts. This taught them a profound lesson and, therefore, at this point they showed that they had overcome any feelings of jealousy and that, in truth, they were united as one with their brother.
Yosef, on the other hand, who, when young, had been sold into slavery, had no power to protect himself and no power to fight back with his brothers. Now, with all the power to take revenge and get even, in a sense, with his brothers, nevertheless, he showed his true nobility and true greatness by showing his brothers that he had overcome any feelings of jealousy or anxiety and in raising his own children in Egypt, he had never imparted to them a sense that they would have to get even with their uncles or cousins because of the bad treatment that had been meted out to Joseph. On the contrary, he emphasized the unity and love of family. Therefore, the singular term, "Nefesh" is used both in speaking of Yaakov and his children and grandchildren descending to Egypt, as well as of Yosef and his children in Egypt who were there to receive the families and go on to live together.
Envy over Jealousy
This unity and oneness of the Jewish people in overcoming feelings of jealousy and envy that exists within families, is the hallmark of the Jewish people. This is the power that we have and it is through this power of unity that the Jewish people were able to go through the oppression and the slavery of Egypt and come out as one nation, so that at the time that G‑d revealed Himself at Mt. Sinai and gave the Torah to the Jewish people, they stood k'Ish Echod b'Lev Echod, as one person with one heart, with one intent, united as one before A-mighty G‑d.