A construction company had a loyal employee for many years and the CEO was extremely happy with his work. After thirty successful years, he notifies the CEO that he will be retiring in a months’ time. They tried to convince him to stay and promised a generous raise, but he apologized and insisted that he made up his mind to retire.
The CEO asked him, "Before you retire, can you do us a favor and build us one more house? We will pay you for your work and then you will retire". He agreed to stay on for this last job and immediately began to build this one last house. However, he began thinking, "Since this is my last job and I'm not afraid of being fired or of ruining my reputation, why should I invest so much effort into this project?" Laziness overcame him and he cut corners wherever he could. On the outside, nobody could really tell the difference. But this worker knew that the foundation wasn't as solid as it should be, the floors were uneven, the walls not so steady, and the fine details were all imperfect. When at last the construction was complete, the worker went to say a final goodbye to his CEO. But there was a surprise waiting for him. With a flourish, the CEO handed a key to his employee, and said, "This is our parting gift to you. The house that you just built – it's yours to keep. Enjoy!" The contractor left the CEO with mixed feelings. On one hand, he was touched by the generous gift. But on the other hand, he was so angry at himself for his laziness. If only he would've given this project all his strength and attention to detail, he would have a beautiful, sturdy home! There was no turning back now. The retired employee had no choice but to reside in a shaky, leaky, broken structure for the rest of his life.
This story happens all the time. Each time we do a mitzvah, we add another brick onto our home of eternity in the upper world. Every time we sin, we destroy a brick. Cutting corners with the mitzvos we do is cutting corners on our home in the world to come. What kind of home are you building for your future? Are you paying attention to the details?
In this week's parsha, perek 41 pasuk 41-44 – Pharaoh said to Yosef, "I have placed you in charge of the land of Mitzrayim". Pharaoh removed his ring and put it on Yosef’s hand. He had him dressed in fine linen and he placed a gold chain on his neck. He also had him ride his second chariot and he called him "avreich". Says the midrash Raba (90:3) R’ Shimon ben Gamliel says that Yosef was rewarded from Heaven as a result of his deeds. Regarding his mouth that did not kiss Potiphar, Pharoah said "by your mouth the entire land will be sustained". Regarding his body that did not touch Potiphar, Pharoah dressed him in fine linen clothing. Regarding his neck that did not bend to do an aveira, he placed on him a gold chain. Regarding his hands that did not touch sin, Pharoah removed his ring from his hand and put it on Yosef’s hand. Regarding his feet that did not do an aveira, he had him ride in his second chariot. And regarding his mind that did not think in sin, they called him avreich, which means "av" – a father of wisdom and "rach" – young in years. (Yosef was 30 at that time and wisdom is usually achieved at age 40, but he achieved wisdom at that young age.)
Says the Yefe’ To’ar on the midrash, there's a reason why the pasuk lists every detail of the greatness of Yosef. The pasuk could've simply stated that Pharaoh raised Yosef to second in command and we would automatically know that he received all this honor. The reason that the pasuk lists all the details is to teach us that Yosef received a reward on every detail. He ruled over all his limbs and so every limb received a reward. Says the Yefe’h To’ar, when one gives tzedakah, the reward is not only that he kept that poor person alive. Rather, he receives reward for the joy he put into it, the zerizus and the kavana he had - every last detail. So too, with Yosef Hatzadik – he was rewarded for every last detail. The gemara says in Kiddushin 39: one who sits and does not perform an aveira with which he is confronted is given a reward as if he did a mitzva. So that's why Yosef didn’t receive a general reward that he became second in command; rather each of his limbs were rewarded for holding back from sin.
R’ Shlomo Harkavy in sefer Mamrei Shlomo (maamar 24) says the peshat in the midrash is we see how Yosef went l’maala min hateva above nature, and since he raised himself above nature, Hashem acted with him above nature and he merited to be raised to the position of second in command.
So often in life, we are ready to do a good deed, yet we face a decision whether or not to pay attention to the details. We're willing to give the tzedakah, but will we give it with a smile, with encouraging words, with warmth? Or will we give it with the attitude of "just leave me alone already"? We're in shul; we're davening. Are we doing it with proper attention, or just to be "yotze"?
In one way or another, these questions of attention to detail come up in our daily lives. When faced with the struggle, keep in mind that you are that construction worker who is building a home for your future, a home for eternity. It's not a time to be lazy.
