Yosef is the ultimate team player. The ultimate team player is one who denies himself glory or advancement of his own agenda for the benefit of the team. There is no letter “i” in the word "team." Yosef showed amazing strength of character in the way that he did not wish to avenge his brothers, but rather ingratiate them with support for as long as he was in power. He did not allow them to feel bad and he explained to them that this was the Divine plan so that he would be in a position to take care of the family. He expressed to them that they never harmed him, but just helped facilitate giving him the opportunity to reach his purpose.
What if the story of the selling of Yosef did not have such a rosy ending? Would Yosef have had such a positive outlook? If the brothers would have found him as a slave, beaten and abused, would this really be his response? Would he say thank you my dear brothers for this opportunity to live a life worse than death, my tikkun in life, and you my dear brothers helped facilitate that righteous goal? Was Yosef super-human, without feelings, or was this a level of bitachon in Hashem that we can’t imagine?
The next pasuk states that Yosef fell on the shoulder of Benyamin and cried and Benyamin fell on Yosef’s shoulder and cried. Rashi explained that Yosef cried because he saw in ruach hakodesh that the two Basei Hamikdash that will be in the portion of Benyamin, will ultimately be destroyed. Benyamin cried that the Mishkan Shilo that was to be in Yosef’s portion was to be destroyed. The question is that one does not receive ruach hakodesh without simcha, yet here they were crying in pain of the destruction so how were they able to see the future?
What we need to bear in mind is that Yosef had two dreams that to him was a form of prophecy with a very positive ending. All he had to do is see how Hashem was going to play out all the parts as the master conductor of the world symphony. Yosef had a clear vision that there was always a light at the end of the tunnel, so he kept holding on. Though he had times of severe torment due to his predicaments, what gave him strength was the knowledge that things would get better. When Yosef and Binyomin cried for the destruction of the Mishkan and both Basei Hamikdash, they also were able to see the third and final rebuilding of the Bais Hamikdash, which gave them joy. This joyous vision enabled them to receive their ruach hakodesh. In our times we have the opportunity to see the craziness happening everywhere in the world all from our phone, and the world has become a small place. As we are being bombarded with the cruelty, the chaos and disasters of the world, we need to remind ourselves that the world will change once more. We understand and believe that the coming of the Mashiach is going to change the world as we know it. Everyone will get to know that Hashem is the Ruler of heaven and earth, and we will rebuild the Bais Hamikdash. This is the constant light at the end of our tunnel, and if we focus on it, we will have strength to endure the challenges of this world.
Even after Chanukah has departed, let us hold on to the miraculous lights that infused our spirits, so we can persevere with joy until the day we will experience the great lights of the Geulah.
