In our parashah, Joseph's brothers recognize their error: "We are guilty" and they understood that all the misfortunes that happened to them were due to that error. After this recognition, the first-born Reubén confronts them and rebukes them: “Didn't I tell you not to sin against the child? And you didn't listen to me”. I warned you and you did not heed my words! What was the purpose of Reuben's words? A person who wants to do teshuvah is forbidden to afflict him! We must encourage him and help him to get out of his situation, to rise up and move forward. Why did Reuben remind his brothers of his sin? And what can we learn from this for our daily service to HaShem?
Reuben's purpose in this was, in fact, to deepen the brothers' growing grief, but not to depress their spirits. Reuben, who was the first-born, felt the need to help his brothers to rise to true teshuvah. For this reason he sought that his brothers wake up and feel the pain of Yosef when he was sold and repent, through the sufferings they felt. Because the man who repents truly rises to this remorse, by understanding the enormity of the sin that he committed and not because of his problems and sufferings that overtake him and can also see the suffering of others. Reubén wanted to make his brothers see the enormity of his sin, so that they could completely repent and correct it.
Reubén, as the first-born brother, felt the responsibility to help his brothers. He did not ignore his problems and did not refrain from speaking to his hearts and even his sorrows with responsible feeling and Ahavat Israel. We too can learn from Reuben’s behavior. The purpose of reproof is to help others correct themselves and advance in the service of HaShem. The basis is true Ahavat Israel, and a feeling of closeness to others. Our Sages Z"L said: “Words that come out from the heart, enter to the heart”, since the reproach comes from that deep feeling, it is received by the fellow and makes him able to change. About teshuvah the Rambam says: "When Israel finally does teshuvah, the end of the exile will be revealed" soon in our days.
