Joseph is Alive

Rabbi Israel Chait

Written by a student

And they [Jacob’s sons] told Jacob, “Joseph is still alive and he is ruler over the whole land of Egypt.” His heart fainted, for he did not believe them. But when they recounted all that Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. (Gen. 45:26,27)

Question: What about seeing the wagons convinced Jacob that Joseph was alive?

Rabbi Chait: The word “lasais; to carry” refers not to mere transport, but to tending to somebody by hand. A broken man—whom Joseph should have been—cannot concern himself with others. But Joseph’s honor of Jacob by sending overabundant wagons to bring his father to Egypt shows concern for others. 

“Joseph is still alive and he is ruler over the whole land of Egypt”. The spirit of their father Jacob revived.

Jacob’s initial disbelief was because he felt his biological son might be alive, but he would be a broken man, not his original “Joseph.” Upon descending to Egypt to buy food and find Joseph, the brothers first searched for Joseph in houses of ill repute: “They had entered the ten gates of the city and were asking about him; they had entered the houses of ill repute” (Rashi, Gen. 42:9). Jacob too felt even Joseph would succumb to Egyptian influences. But upon seeing the wagons, Jacob’s spirit was uplifted by Joseph honor. Joseph maintained his philosophical and psychological integrity. “Honoring parents is equated to honoring God” (Jerusalem Talmud, Peah 1:1), and a broken man could not perform such an act, certainly not a mitzvah of honoring one’s parent. The original Joseph is still alive; he did not succumb. Joseph desired to honor God which is equated to honoring his father. Jacob seeing Joseph fulfill the mitzvah of honoring his father, saw that Joseph was not destroyed.