Shabbat Parashat Vayigash - 5783

Shabbat Parashat Vayigash - 5783

Rabbi Hal Miller And Israel said, there is much. My son Yosef still lives, I shall go and see him before I die. [Bereishit 45:28] This verse has three parts. The second, "My son Yosef still lives" and third, "I shall go and see him before I die" seem pretty straightforward. But the first part is confusing. The Hebrew is va'yomer yisrael rav, and Israel said "rav". What did Yaakov mean? The word rav means numerous, many, great, or all sorts of similar translations. It is typically used in combination, such as Moshe speaking to Korach, rav lachem, "it is much for you." Here, it stands alone, "and Israel said, 'much'." Much what? Most commentators give it a quick definition then pass on. Rashi says, "There is much joy and gladness for me because my son Yosef still lives." Onkelos is similar, "My joy is enormous, my son Yosef still exists." Ramban is close, using the translation "great!" meaning wonderful. Saadiah Gaon and Rav Soloveitchik are similar, but with a twist. "It is enough that Yosef is still alive", that Yaakov is now ready to die with a complete life. Malbim follows this, "it is enough for me that he is alive and remained my righteous son," in effect saying that he had no interest in all that the brothers had to say about Yosef's majesty and power in Egypt. But others have different interpretations. Instead of applying the word to Yaakov's happiness, Bereishit Rabbah [94:3] applies it to Yosef: "Great is the moral strength of my son who has experienced many misfortunes yet adheres to his righteousness." Rav Hirsch notes that each time Yaakov is faced with significant stress and faces difficult decisions, he is referred to by the name Yaakov, such as when Rachel died and he buried her [Bereishit 35:20]. But now, with our verse, he is again called Israel, meaning he had lifted himself up to being a strong servant of God, above the tribulations of ordinary life. He had had "enough" of wallowing in his sorrows and was ready to move on.