5786/2025
The Pasuk says: “VaYishma Reuven VaYatzeilhu MiYadam VaYomer Lo Nakenu Nafesh,” “When Reuven heard it, he tried to save him (Yosef) from them (the brothers). He said, “Let us not take his life” (BeReishit 37:21).
The Midrash asks, why did Reuven step up and want to save Yosef more than any of the other brothers? Rabi Nechemia says Reuven said: I am the firstborn, and the blame will be attributed only to me. The Rabbanan say: Reuven said: He enumerates me with my brothers; shall I not rescue him? I was under the impression that I had been excluded because of that incident (switching of Bilhah and Leah’s beds), and he enumerated me with my brothers, As it is stated: “And eleven stars bowed themselves to me”. (בראשית לז:ט) Hashem said: ‘You were the first to engage in the saving of lives; as you live, they will designate Arei Miklat first within your boundaries. (דברים ד:מג). We see the Reuven’s Zerizut to save Yosef stemmed from the HaKarat HaTov that he had for Yosef when Yosef included him in his dream, that he was still part of the Shivtei Kah. Rav Chaim Shmulevitz explains that although Yosef’s dream was not intended for Reuven, Reuven understood from the dream that he is obligated to show HaKarat HaTov and therefore the Torah attributes Reuven saving Yosef from the pit in this Pasuk.
Rambam writes in Hilchot Chanukah מִצְוַת נֵר חֲנֻכָּה מִצְוָה חֲבִיבָה הִיא עַד מְאֹד וְצָרִיךְ אָדָם לְהִזָּהֵר בָּהּ כְּדֵי לְהוֹדִיעַ הַנֵּס וּלְהוֹסִיף בְּשֶׁבַח הָאֵל וְהוֹדָיָה לוֹ עַל הַנִּסִּים שֶׁעָשָׂה לָנוּ. This description unique to Chanukah. We suggest that since Chanukah consists of days of הלל והודאה and Chazal were instituted Hadlakat Neirot , since we are giving HaKarat HaTov to Hashem and it is a Mitzvah that is Chavivah, especially beloved.
This idea is also expressed by the many Pesukim the Torah devotes to describing the Nisi’im’s donations to the Mishkan. The Torah could have sufficed by listing the first Nasi and his contributions, and then have said each Nasi brought the identical ones. The Torah goes out of its way to extend HaKarat HaTov to each Nasi by highlighting his importance with his own contributions.
We see from the Parashah and Chanukah that HaKarat HaTov is a crucial concept to incorporate into our daily lives. (Adapted from Imrei Baruch)
We see from the Parashah and Chanukah that HaKarat HaTov is a crucial concept to incorporate into our daily lives. (Adapted from Imrei Baruch)