Vayeshev 5764
In Parashat Vayeshev we learn how Yaakov Aveenu sends down his son Yoseph to check out the welfare of his brothers. And from that story, Yoseph was thrown in a pit and eventually was sold to Egypt. Yaakov tells his son Yoseph before he sends him down, in Perek 37 Pasuk 14, "Vayomer Lo, Lech Na Rie Et Shilom Achecha Viet Shilom Hatzon, Vehashiveni Davar." Yaakov tells Yoseph to go and look into the welfare of his brothers and the welfare of the flock (Hatzon). It is a little strange that Yaakov would be interested in the welfare of his flock and how his sheep were doing. It is not so common that people would inquire about the welfare of their animals. We can understand the fact that he wanted to know how is children were doing. But what is this concept of Shilom Hatzon?
The Midrash explains that from here you see that you must show concern and pray on behalf on the things that provide to you Parnasa (sustenance.) The sheep to Yaakov Aveenu is a source of livelihood. They provided him sheerings, and milk, they provided him meat, and therefore it’s almost like Hakarat Hatov, it’s almost a sign of gratitude that Yaakov shows concern to the vehicle that’s providing him with sustenance.
The message that Yaakov gave Yoseph at that moment to not only check on the welfare of his brothers, but to also check on the welfare of their sheep, that served Yoseph quite well when he came down to Egypt. When he came down to Egypt, Yoseph was being seduced on a daily basis by the wife of Potiphar. Potiphar was Yoseph’s boss. We leanred that Yoseph was able to control himself. How? The Gemara says, at the time of truth Yoseph saw the image of his father, and that’s what caused him to run away and not fall. So the Mafarshim (Rabbis who gave explanations) asked, what exactly did Yoseph see? What did he remember when he saw his father? And the Mafarshim answered that he remembered when his father sent him down and said to seek the welfare of the sheep. Yoseph remembered that you must have gratitude to the one that provides you sustenance. And Yoseph said to himself; ‘How can I commit such a sin against my master Potiphar, after all I am employed by Potiphar?’ It would greatly show a lack of gratitude if I were to commit a sin with the wife of my employer, who is the one providing me with a living.’ So you see, that saved Yoseph from the sin of the wife of Potiphar.
So this lesson that Yaakov imparted onto Yoseph before he left, served him quite well. And from here you learn a great lesson. That it’s not enough to have Hakarat Hatov (gratitude) to our parents, and Hakarat Hatov to our Rabbis, and Hakarat Hatov to our friends. But there is a new type of Hakarat Hatov, to our employer, to the one that provides work for us and the vehicle that G-d bestows to give us our living. We must have an extra debt of gratitude. Yoseph’s main reason of deterrent not to commit the sin was, how could he do this to the boss that pays his salary. So you see that Yaakov set it up in order that his children would be able to have such a philosophy and such an ideology. And that’s again the lesson to us. How far reaching Hakarat Hatov goes.
