Continuing the Legacy of Rabbi Dovid Winiarz of blessed memory
“The seven years of abundance ended... and the seven years of famine began to come as Yosef had said.” (41:53-54)
QUESTION: Why does it state “as Yosef said” regarding the seven years of famine, but not in relation to the seven years of abundance?
ANSWER: Much of the non-Jewish world hates the Jew and envies his success. Thanks to Yosef, the people in Egypt experienced great affluence, but they did not want to give credit to a Jew. When the troubles started, however, suddenly everyone began accusing the Jews of causing the Egyptians’ suffering. Alas, this is a recurrent pattern in Jewish history.
When the famine took hold, Yaakov sent his sons to Egypt to buy food. He said, “Go down there...” In Hebrew, the word for “go down” is R’DU, whose numerical value is 210. Rashi says that Yaakov chose this word instead of the more common, L’CHU, meaning go, to hint to the 210 years the Jews would be in Egypt before the exodus.
The Sifsei Chachomim suggests that the word R’du, meaning go down, was quite logical, since Israel’s elevation is higher than Egypt’s, and to go to Egypt they would have to “go down.” He therefore suggests that since it also said the word, “there,” it meant the Jews would be “there [for] 210 years.”
Then he offers a second comment. In truth, though they would have to “go down” to Egypt, Yaakov would normally have used the more positive and elevated syntax, “go” to Egypt. He opted for this language even though it was not as pleasant, in order to convey to his sons that they would return from Egypt after 210 years.
What a marvelous lesson from our grandfather Yaakov, that we should always seek to use happy, pleasant speech, and not reference things that are sad or negative unless we absolutely have to. In fact, even now, Yaakov’s reference to the going down was actually a positive, because there was a set end to their exile! How thoughtful we should be with our words, and how much joy we can bring with them.
When the famine struck Egypt, Pharaoh directed the people to speak to Yosef. When they came forward, Yosef opened all the storehouses and sold them grain. The verse ends by saying that the famine became more severe in the land. (Devarim 41:56)
If Yosef had stockpiled enough grain for seven years, why did he open ALL the storehouses? And if there was sufficient food, why does the Torah follow by saying that the famine got more severe?
The Sforno says that Yosef, in an effort to allay their fears that they would starve, opened ALL the storehouses to show them that there was plenty. In that case, in what way did the famine become more severe?
It may be that even though the grain was in Pharaoh’s storehouses, the people realized that they would have to rely on Yosef’s goodness to provide for them. They would have to trust that he would not charge exorbitant prices and that he would not choose to sell to some people and not others. Knowing they were not self-sufficient was a very painful experience, and they realized it would be a long time before they were back on their own two feet.
This, perhaps, is what the Torah was conveying to us: That when others need our help, we must realize how difficult it is for them, and be sure not to make it any harder.
