It says in this week's Parasha... “His soul is bound up with his soul.” (44:30)
QUESTION: How did their souls become connected?
The word “keshurah” (קשורה)— “bound” — has the numerical value of 611, which is the same numerical value as the word “Torah” (תורה). Yaakov taught Binyomin Torah and through their Torah study, their souls became connected.
Torah is the language that unifies Jews of past, present and future generations. h/t Danny Azarfar
Once Yosef revealed himself to his brothers, he longed to be reunited with his father. He told them: “Go tell my father, “So says your son, Yosef, G-d has made me a master of the land. Come down to me without delay.””
Why does Yosef send the message that he is a high-ranking official? Was he bragging? Wouldn’t Yaakov have come to see if simply because he was alive?
It could be that Yosef was explaining why he couldn’t leave and Yaakov had to be the one to travel. Because of his position, he was forced to remain in Egypt. But he also told Yaakov not to delay. This seems brusque or at least not the way one would speak to a parent.
However, Yosef chose his words very carefully. He said, “Tell my father, G-d has made me the master of the land.” Yosef’s focus was not on his position or success, but on the fact that Hashem had placed him there. He did not believe he achieved greatness because he was so clever or worthy. Rather, he understood he was placed in this position for a reason.
His most likely explanation was that he was paving the way for Yaakov to come to Egypt. (Most likely the whole family knew of the prophecy to Abraham that his descendants would be slaves in a foreign land. Yosef was saying, “The pieces have fallen into place and Hashem prepared the way for you. Now it is time to act on it and fulfill Hashem’s will.”
This was a most convincing argument, and one Yosef was sure his father would concur with.
Yaakov Avinu was afraid to go to Egypt, as he knew it was a place far from the sanctity of the home he’d made in Canaan. Therefore, Hashem spoke to Yaakov and promised to be with him; that Yaakov would return to Canaan, and that Yosef would close Yaakov’s eyes. Reassured, he made the trip.
The posuk tells us, “And Yaakov got up from Be’er Sheva, and the B’nai Yisrael carried their father Yaakov... in the wagons Pharaoh had sent for them.” (46:5) The commentaries say he was referred to as Yaakov here because he was weakened by the knowledge that he would be going into Exile. He had to “get up” and be urged on to go to this unholy land.
The commentaries also say that his sons were referred to as “B’nai Yisrael,” because at this moment, as they went from their insulated environment into the dangerous world of Mitzrayim, they needed to be heirs to Yisrael, who wrestled with angels and men and bested them all.
Perhaps, seeing his children living up to their potential and following in his footsteps, Yaakov was buoyed with hope and pride, and in fact, was lifted from his concern by seeing his children all grown up.
