(Hakhel) HaRav Salomon provides a beautiful teaching of HaRav Chaim Volozhiner, Z’tl (in Sefer Ruach Chaim to Avos 2:4). There, HaRav Chaim brings the famous Kepital in Tehillim (23)–”Hashem Ro’i Lo Echsar–Hashem is my shepherd–I will lack nothing.” Dovid HaMelech compares himself to a sheep whose whole existence depends on the shepherd. He leads them in a way that they won’t be injured–all is for their benefit even if they have no understanding.
Dovid HaMelech teaches us all to follow the shepherd and feel secure, for even if one may be tired, harassed and even forlorn, he must uplift himself and have full confidence that the shepherd is leading him in the path that is really best. Knowing this, the “Shivtecha”–the stick that hits me, and Mishantecha--the stick that I lean upon, are really the same stick. Thus, “Heimah Yenachamuni–they together assuage me because I have Bitachon that everything is Letova–for the good– for it all comes from the One who is All Good . At the end of this week’s Parasha, Yosef HaTzaddik places some eminently justifiable reliance on the Sar Hamashkim–after all that Yosef did for him. However, the end was, as the last word of the Parasha testifies–Vayishkacheihu–and he forgot him. With this, Yosef learned that our hallmark for survival in Galus among all those around us who in fact do us a favor if they only ‘forget us’–is looking to Hashem for anything and everything. The lesson learned is quickly brought to the world in next week’s Parasha as Yosef starkly and clearly advises Paroh–”Biladai–it is not me, it is Hashem who makes all determinations and all decisions, and it is to Him that we must turn–in all dreams, and in all realities!
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