IN THE PARSHA:
When we left מצרים, “משה took the bones of יוסף with him” (וֹמֹשֶׁה אֶׁת עַצְמוֹת יוֹסֵף עִמ חקַ וַיִ ).
QUESTION:
Why does the תורה say that משה took יוסף’s bones with him? Why doesn’t the תורה use a more respectful term, saying that משה took יוסף’s coffin with him?
Also, what is the connection between this פסוק and the פסוק right before it, which describes how Hashem led the Yidden by way of the desert?
ANSWER/LIFE LESSON:
The Hebrew word for bone, עֵֶׁ צֶׁ ם, also means “essence” (bones are the essence of the body).
When the תורה tells us that משה took the עצמות of יוסף with him, the תורה is teaching us that משה brought the essence of יוסף with him.
The essence of יוסף can be understood when we understand the significance of his name, given to him by his mother רחל, who said, רלִי בֵן אַחֵ ד' סֵףוֹי.
Simply, this is a prayer that Hashem should add (סֵףוֹי) another son (רבֵן אַחֵ ) for her.
On a deeper level, this means that we should “add”, bringing Yidden closer to Hashem, revealing that they are Hashem’s children.
We must ensure that no Yid becomes an “other” (ראַחֵ ), distant from Hashem ח"ו. Rather, he should be close to Hashem, revealing that he is Hashem’s “son” (ןבֵ ).
In order to survive גלות, a spiritual desert, we tap into the essence of יוסף, which ensures that we never become ראַחֵ because we are Hashem’s ןבֵ .
Further discussion:
Based on the above, what is the connection between the beginning and the end of the פרשה?
(See אות ד in the שיחה)
