The Torah ends this week’s parsha and Sefer Breishis by relating Yosef HaTzadik’s passing, being placed in a coffin and layed to rest in Mitzrayim. It is upon this ending verse that we exclaim “chazak chazak v’nischazeik”. As the familiar idiom states; “misayamim b’davar tov- we conclude on a positive note”, how is it that we conclude parshas Vayechi and the entire Sefer Breishis on such a note! The parsha could have ended with the oath that Yosef administered to his brethren that when they would go out of galus they would bring his coffin to Eretz Yosroel. What is the positive lesson can we learn from this ending?
There is a basic difference between Yosef and Yaakov. Yaakov was immediately taken back to be buried in Eretz Yisroel. Yaakov was so careful to assure that this would occur that he made Yosef swear. This vow was required even though Yosef already had agreed to do so. Didn’t Yaakov trust Yosef that he would take care of it without an oath? One possible answer is that by making Yosef take an oath he insured that Pharoh would have to agree. This actually worked as the oath was the only reason that Pharoh agreed. But this Yosef was also aware of and therefore should have also suggested the oath.
A deeper explanation relates to Yosef’s concern for the Jewish people left behind in Mitzrayim. Yosef feared that Yaakov’s internment in Eretz Yisroel would leave those in Mitzrayim feeling forsaken. Because of this concern he didn’t want to swear. For this reason Yaakov made him take the oath. Yaakov had a different approach. Yaakov remained beyond the galus from the very beginning as Hashem informed him before he arrived that He would take out. When he arrived the famine stopped and even while in Mitzrayim he lived away in the land of Goshen and was removed from directly interfacing with Mitzrayim.
Yaakov wanted to be beyond Mitzrayim in order to be more helpful as is known; “aiyn hachavush matir es atzmo- a prisoner cannot release himself from prison”. Mitzrayim was like a prison for the Yidden. For that reason Yaakov insisted that he be taken up from Mizrayim to Eretz Yisroel where he could be of the greatest assistance, to help them also leave Mitzrayim, as he had.
Yosef wanted Yidden to receive direct support in the place they were at that time. He wanted to meet their immediate needs to overcome the challenge of galus Mitzrayim, to insure that when they would leave that it they would be fully intact, with their Hebrew names and their Jewish identities.
This is the way that Sefer Breishis ends, with a message that Yosef is with us, and remains with us throughout the galus. He is with us to assist us to remain intact and overcome its challenge. To this we say “chazak chazak v’nischazeik”, we strengthen ourselves that we have the strength to overcome all the difficulties of the galus, and that the Tzaddikim are together with us. We are able to uphold our observance of all the Torah and Mitzvos in the best possible way. This is the approach of the Chabad Rabbeim. They remain with us throughout galus and will come together with us out of galus. Lo azav es tzon mariso- we are not forsaken.
(Adapted from Sichos on parshas Vayechi 5747 and volume 25)