Back in 1996, Rabbi Finman was asked to speak to the niece of one of his students. After spending many hours answering her questions, the woman gave Rabbi Finman her e-mail address. Rabbi Finman wrote the woman a note and included in it a short insight into that week's Parsha and a short Chasidic story.

Realizing that this was something no one was yet doing,, Rabbi Finman sent the missive to his mailing list of about 30 people. Requests from recipients friends came pouring in. The next week Rabbi Finman sent the e-Parsha to 100 people. Within a year more than 2000 people were receiving it. Today, more than 14,000 receive the e-Parsha weekly and the requests keep coming in.

Vayeshev 5785
Vayishlach 5785
Vayetzei 5785
Toldos 5785
Chaya Sora 5785

Vayeshev 5785

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This week's YouParsha Vayeshev https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkCwjtuUjv8 Joseph and Potifar’s Wife.

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This week’s Parsha is Vayigash, Genesis 44:18 - 47:27. It is related in the Zohar that Yosef collected money from the Egyptians and divided it into three treasures. One was discovered by Korach, one by Antoninus and one will be discovered by the Tzadikim when Moshiach comes. Elsewhere in the Zohar it states that the Almighty hid the light created on the first day, to be used by the tzadikim when Moshiach comes.

It is explained in Chassidus that each Jew has a storehouse of silver and gold. Silver in Hebrew is kesef. The word kesef also means to desire. It is said about gold that everyone wants gold. Gold and silver are inherent levels of love that the Jew has for Hashem. There are two types of love. One is developed through meditation and intellectual development. This love is intense and fiery and compared to gold. The second love is natural and is always present. It must be revealed from deep within us. This love is developed through doing mitzvahs and acts of kindness.

Yosef, the second to the king, is compared to the Divine attribute of Yesod, foundation. Yesod finalizes plans. It was Yosef’s job to prepare and supply the needs not only for his father and brothers to descend into the Egyptian exile, but for the imminent arrival of Moshiach, as well.

Before the patriarch Yaakov moved down to Egypt, he was visited with a prophetic vision. The Almighty promises him, "I will go down with you, I will bring you up." There is a special relationship between Hashem and the Jewish people. We are in a constant state of attachment. There is an expression, A Jew neither can or wants to be separated from Hashem." In whatever situation the Jews may find themselves, Hashem is with them. It is merely up to us to delve deep within our storehouses to find that attachment.

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The Rebbe Marash, fourth Lubavitcher Rebbe, was traveling by train through Russia. The trains, in those days did not have heated compartments. During the winter months, the trains would make periodic rest stops to allow the passengers to warm up in a train station. These stations would boast large samovars of hot water to help warm the frigid travelers. When the train came to a station the Rebbe announced that he would not drink from the samovar and inquired if there was a Jew that lived near the station. He was informed that there was a Jewish tailor that lived right next door to the station. He and his small entourage knocked on the door and asked if they could spend time in the tailor's house.

Word soon spread around the village that the Lubavitcher Rebbe was farbrenging (having a Chassidic gathering) in the tailor's house. Soon the entire Jewish population was crammed into the small house. This sudden display of "chaos" drew the attention of the local military commandant whose job it was to keep peace in the shtetl. The captain pushed his way into the house and demanded an explanation from the Rebbe.

The Rebbe responded that his father, the Tzemach Tzedek, would often do things on impulse. Since he was a pure individual, he only thought what was correct and only did what was correct. Many times, he would later find out the reason for his action. The Marash continued that he too did not know why he had decided to come, but he would be leaving on the next train.

Several years passed and the captain slowly rose through the ranks. When the time came for him to be appointed general the officials discovered that he was indeed Jewish. Russian law forbade prominent officials from being Jewish. They approached him with the news and offered him the opportunity to convert. He responded that he needed time to think.

For days the question of giving up his Judaism bothered him. But what bothered him more was that he was bothered by it. For four decades, since the time of his abduction and induction into the Russian army as a child of ten, he had not thought about his Judaism. He decided that he must travel to Lubavitch and speak with the Marash.

Lubavitch was small town, 20 kilometers from the closest train station. It boasted no paved roads and little in the way of amenities. It did not attract official visitors. When the colonel suddenly arrived, demanding to see the Rebbe, it made quite a stir. The officer was admitted to the Rebbe’s office and excused himself for intruding on the Rebbe’s busy schedule.

He explained who he was and, how many years past, they had met in the house of the tailor. The Rebbe responded that now he understood why he had gone to the house of the tailor.

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