QUESTION: Why didn’t Yosef (or Yitzchak) reveal to Yaacov that Yosef was still alive?
ANSWER: The brothers had a pact not to reveal to Yaacov that Yosef was still alive until all of them, plus HaShem, wished to reveal the truth; until HaShem desired to reveal the truth for His own reasons, Yosef (just like Yitzchak) would not reveal something that HaShem kept hidden from Yaacov.
(196 'עמ ,הלקוטי שיחות כרך)
QUESTION: What was Yosef able to explain to Paroh about his dream that the others were not able to explain?
ANSWER: Others had difficulty explaining why all the cows were standing together in the dream; Yosef interpreted (and not offered advice) that someone should be appointed over Egypt to ensure that the grain from the seven bountiful years would be stored for the coming years of famine, for in this way all the cows would stand "together". The dream & its interpretation are a precursor for the future exile and redemption; "good cows" (the love of G-d) and "emaciated cows" (the worldly worries) can reside in an individual at the same time.
(339 'עמ ,טו קוטי שיחות כרך ל)
QUESTION: Why did Yosef break down at that point (he did not break down when he saw Binyomin earlier)?
ANSWER: Yosef had great control of his emotions till this point even after seeing Binyomin; the moving verbal exchange between the brothers, Yosef & Binyomin, finally caused Yosef to break down. Jews (Yosef) need to awaken the compassion on the G-dly sparks that descended into this world (level of Ben-Oni), which in turn brings HaShem’s compassion onto us.
(348, עמ' טו לקוטי שיחות כרך)
QUESTION: How do we understand the three explanations by Rashi of the word אברך?
ANSWER: 1) אבא למלכא friend of the King; plain meaning according to the Targum
2) Rabbi Yehuda according to the general content – אב בחכמה ורך בשנים “Yehuda” from הודאה וביטול the concept of ביטול במציאות
3) Rabbi Yossi explains according to the specific word – לשון ברכים “kneeling” the name “Yossi” is the same gematria as הטבע the concept of ביטול היש.
(202 , עמ'הלקוטי שיחות כרך)
QUESTION: Why did Yosef prepare a special meal for the brothers?
ANSWER: Yosef did many things that in retrospect the brothers would see as actions that Yosef had behaved as a brother; making a special meal was one such action, which included the preparation of slaughtering of the meat according to their custom. The mitzvah of Receiving Guests in its fullest, is to supply one’s guests with their needs, and not to apply one’s own chumros to the guests.
(118, עמ' להת כרך לקוטי שיחו)
