Geshmake Question & Readers Answers
Last week’s Geshmake Question:
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This Week’s Geshmake Question:
Chazal say that Yosef looked exactly like his father, Yaakov. So how come the brothers didn’t recognize it was Yosef until he revealed himself?
Shmuel was learning in kollel. One day, he was offered a job that would let him make a lot of money, which he really needed.
He was not sure if he should take it, so he asked his mashgiach.
The mashgiach said, “I do not think you should take it. I hold that money is filthy!”
But he added, “Let us ask Rav Shach, the gadol hador, because this is too big of a question for me.”
They went to Rav Shach, and he said, “I need to think about it. Come back to me later.”
After they left, the people around Rav Shach asked why he didn’t answer. “Usually, the Rosh Yeshiva always has an answer?”
“Yes, I did have an answer,” Rav Shach said, “he should not leave learning. But I didn’t want to say I agree with the mashgiach because he said that ‘money is filthy.’”
“I disagree with that statement. Money can be used for bad things, but that doesn’t mean it is bad. Money can also be used for so many good things; it can be used to help so many people for yomim tovim, weddings, chinuch, etc.”
What’s the lesson? 1) Rav Shach didn’t want to embarrass the mashgiach by telling him in front of everyone that he was wrong. 2) In life, so many things can be used for bad, but can also be used for holy things if it’s done correctly.
This connects to this week’s parshah:
When Yosef revealed himself to his brothers, he told them to tell Yaakov.
Question: Why did Yosef wait nine years to tell his father he was alive, even though he was second in power in Mitzrayim?
Answer: Because he did not want his father to find out that his brothers sold him, which would embarrass them… (But later, it was the right time for Yosef, and he needed to reveal himself.)
Many years ago, Rav Fishel Schachter shlita was about to buy a house; the seller agreed to meet at the law office and Rav Fishel was waiting for the seller, Tony—an Italian man—to arrive. Rav Fishel called Tony, who said he changed his mind; he wasn’t going to sell it to him.
“But we already signed a paper!” Rav Fishel said, shocked.
Tony said, “We both know that it wasn’t a legal paper.”
“Okay, but Tony, it isn’t nice to do this,” Rav Fishel said.
“Don’t tell me about that,” Tony said, “because it is one of your people.”
“He offered me more money; if you give that amount, I will sell it to you.”
Rav Fishel remembered that in the morning, he spoke with someone about it, and another person was listening. Rav Fishel called him and said, “What were you thinking?”
He said, “You didn’t buy it yet, so I didn’t technically take anything away from you. That’s life.”
Rav Fishel called a rav who said, “You can call him here, and we can make a beis din, but I’m telling you now you won’t necessarily win.”
Rav Fishel went to his mashgiach, Rav Moshe Wolfson shlita, and told him the whole story.
Rav Wolfson said, “60 days before you were born, Hashem decided who you will marry and where you will live. Hashem already decided what would be best for you. Whatever is meant to be your best, you will have. What do you think, because someone offered more money, he can take away your house? Leave it, don’t fight. Don’t worry about it. Hashem will send you the perfect house for you.”
Rav Fishel listened to this das Torah and didn’t go to beis din. The other man bought the house. It was only 1 year later that Rav Fishel found a different house, which ended up being the best for him and his family. Much better than if he had gotten the other house.
What’s the lesson? In life, there are things we want, and others seem to have them. You may be thinking, “Why not me?” Remember, Hashem decides what is good for you. No one else is taking anything away from you.
This connects to this week’s parshah:
When Yosef revealed himself to his brothers and said, “I am Yosef.” All the pain, the confusion was explained; it all made sense.
So too in life, we don’t understand, why do some have money and others struggle? Why do some get married right away, and others struggle, etc.? After 120, we’ll come up to the next world, and when Hashem says “I am Hashem,” all our life struggles will make sense, and we’ll see how everything was from Hashem for our best.
Hashem will send you the perfect house.
Is Money Good Or Bad?
Why must the miracle of Chanukah have to be publicized (parume nissa)?
Yitzchak Ollech Answers: Because the nekudah of Chanuka is hodah and the biggest way of giving thanks is in public.
Yanky Gross answers: We publicize that the same miracles that happened back then, still happen today!
