When Yaakov was Niftar, it says: וַיֵּבְךְ עָלָיו וַיִשַק לו נ א Yosef cried and kissed him. This is the second time Yosef cried over his father; the first time it says: וַיֵּבְךְ עַל צַוָּארָיו עוד מו כט he cried “more”, and Rashi says that he cried loads and loads. And here he kisses him also. Also, after he reveals himself to his brothers, the first thing he asks is: הַעוד אָבִי חָי מה ג “Is my father still alive?” We see the special awe and love Yosef had for his father. Yet, he lived only 110 years because of lack of respect, when he wasn’t: מו חֶּ ה (protest) when the Shevotim said: עַבְדְ ךָ אָבִינוּ מד לג “Our father, your servant”. (Medrash). He also had once said that he had a dream where both his father and mother were bowing down to him.
Of course we don’t understand these giants, but for us we have a Yesod. As much as a person has awe and love and unending respect for his parents, he also has to be himself. And there has to be a side to a person that sincerely believes: כָל אֶּחָד וְאֶּחָד חַיָב לומַר בִשְבִילִי נִבְרָא הָעולָם סנהדרין לז א “The entire universe was created just for me”, or else you can possibly remain in the shadow of a parent or Rebbe without developing and appreciating YOUR uniqueness that even Gedolim don’t have.
The Shevotim too, were heavily involved in concern for their father Yaakov. They introduced themselves as: כֻלָּנוּ בְנֵּי אִיש אֶּחָד נָחְנוּ מב יא “We are all the son of one father”, using the word: נָחְנוּ (without an Aleph, not: אֲנַחְנוּ), just like Moshe, the biggest Anav, who said: וְנַחְנוּ מָה בשלח טז ח we are zero! (using the word: נָחְנוּ without an Aleph). This means that they felt Battel and zero compared to Yaakov. And yet, we see them...
Believing in your own greatness is the true Emuna and Bitachon – you’re appreciating the way Hashem made you!
