Kedushah
In parashas Netzavim, it states (Devarim 29:9) טפכם ,ֵֽלָאְרׂיִש ִׁישא כֹּל ...'ה ְנֵילִפ ֶםכֻּלְּכ ַיּוֹםה נִצָּבִים ֶּםַתא ֶםֵיכׁנְש, "You are standing today before Hashem... all the men of Yisrael, your small children, your women..." The Chasam Sofer zt'l (Toras Moshe) says that for the sake of tznius, the children were placed between the men and the women.
The Chasam Sofer's grandson, Reb Yosef Nechemyah Kornitzer zt'l, said the same could be said in this week's parashah when Pharaoh sent wagons to Yaakov. It states (45:19) ֶםֵיכׁוְלִנְש ֶםְּכַפלְט ֲגָלוֹתע, "wagons for your young children and for your wives." Why did Pharaoh have to mention exactly who would come? He could have said he would send wagons to bring Yosef's family. That would be sufficient, and everyone would understand that it is for the men, women, and children. But it is because everyone in Mitzrayim was influenced by Yosef HaTzaddik's holy ways. Being aware of Yosef's ways, Pharaoh knew that Yosef's family wouldn't want to travel in a manner that lacked tznius. So, he said that the children can serve as a mechitzah and separation between the men and the women. This is the reason he mentioned the children before the women.
When the brothers arrived with the wagons, they said to Yaakov (45:26) ַיח ֵףיוֹס עוֹד ָיִםִצְרמ ֶץֶרא ָלבְּכ ֵלׁמש הוּא וְכִי, "Yosef is still alive and he is ruler over all the land of Mitzrayim." They said that Yosef is חי, which implies that he is a tzaddik. ָיִםִצְרמ ֶץֶרא ָלבְּכ ֵלׁמש הוּא וְכִי, his influence has affected the entire nation of Mitzrayim.
Eishes Potiphar said to Yosef, "I will limit your parnassah if you don't listen to me" (Bereishis Rabba 87:10). Reb Yechiel m'Mush said that every person has this test. The yetzer hara tells him that he will lose parnassah if he doesn't compromise his boundaries of kedushah. When he overcomes the yetzer hara, he discovers it was just a hoax.
In our times, the yetzer hara comes with the same enticement. He says that if you don't have access to the internet, you will lose parnassah. You won't be able to buy at cheaper prices, and you won't be able to do jobs that need open internet, r'l. A person should have bitachon and not be afraid, and Hashem will support him in another way. He won't lose anything because he is cautious with the kedushah of his eyes.
Towards the end of the parashah, the Torah tells us that Yosef gave parnassah to his brothers. It states (47:12) ֶתוְא ָבִיוא ֶתא ֵףיוֹס ַלְכֵּלוַיְכָּףַטה ִילְפ ֶםֶחל ָבִיוא בֵּית כָּל ֵתוְא ָיוֶחא, "Yosef sustained his father and his brothers and all of his father's household with food according to the children." Yosef also gave parnassah to the Egyptians, as it states (47:17) ָלבְּכ ֶםבַּלֶּח ֵםֲלוַיְנַהִואַהה ָנָהּׁבַּש ֶםְנֵהִקמ, "He provided them with bread for all their livestock during that year." But the word used for giving parnassah changes. When the Torah discusses Yosef supporting his brothers, it states (47:12) ַלְכֵּלוַיְכֵףיוֹס, "Yosef sustained," and to support the Mitzrim it states ֶםבַּלֶּח ֵםֲלוַיְנַה. One of the translations of ֵםֲלוַיְנַה is led.
Reb Zalman Sorotzkin zt'l (Oznayim l'Torah) explains that a Yid doesn't sell his neshamah to earn some bread. Therefore, it states ויכלכל. Yosef supported them. But goyim are prepared to sell all their morals and religion for their parnassah. This is like Eisav, who sold the bechorah for a bowl of soup, and like the Mitzrim, who agreed to circumcise themselves (see Rashi 41:33) to receive their portion of bread, although they never saw circumcision from their parents. About them the Torah says, ֵםֲלוַיְנַה. With a few dollars, you can lead them wherever you want, and they will follow. But the Jewish nation isn’t weak, and they don't sell out their neshamos for money.
