CLD #752

The famous passage about Yosef HaTzadik and his master’s wife is discussed in our invigorating Parasha, Parashat VaYeshev. Before delving into this part of the Parasha, one needs to know that our Parasha is packed with hidden messages and secrets about life that we can take for our daily rush. Since this is true with the entire Torah, this Parasha is slightly different because it is smack in our face practical and relevant, unlike other Parshiyot.

The story of Yosef and his master’s wife is something we battle everyday. Our generation is in the 6^th thousandth year of the history of the world. It is known that our world will exist for 7000 years, as each thousand represents a different middah) attribute according to the Zohar. The attributes are as follows: Hessed, Gevura, Tiferet, Netzah, Hod, Yesod, Malhut. From the years 5000-6000 it is the ‘thousand’ of Yesod, which if one reads Petah Eliyahu (as it is accustomed to read everyday before Minha in Israel), they see that the Yesod (literal definition = foundation) is the Berit Milah (the male reproductive organ). Our test is how we deal with the temptation to defile ourselves and how we stay pure.

This makes sense since we are reaching the 4^th quarter of the last thousand years (5773) and the temptation to desecrate and defile all issues regarding to intimacy is rising by the day. We literally can tackle on all our desires and feelings and fantasies by searching through one device in our pocket. We can enter a store that has all the impure information of video, media, paper, etc. in a matter of walking out to lunch (in NYC). We can get to such low levels so quickly in regards to purity. Yosef HaTzadik was in the same situation.

Yosef had the ability to be with Eshet Potifar, the wife of his master, nonstop for TWELVE MONTHS. The Midrash said she would change to her most seductive outfits THREE TIMES A DAY. She would threaten his life. What did Yosef do to save himself from her seduction? Everytime she spoke to him, he would make sure his EYES do not look at her. After she saw he is not budging, she ordered (being his master’s wife) to place a metal pole under his chin so he cannot look down. [P.S. the power of running away from his master's wife caused Benei Yisrael hundreds of years later to have the privilege to see the Red Sea split into two for them. If Yosef would have failed, Am Yisrael would not have been exiled!!!]

From this Midrash we learn that the power of the Man is in his eyes. The Yetzer Hara (evil inclination) controls the individual based on what he sees. (Talmud Bavli: Masechet Sotah 8). B’H with the entrance of Shabbat and immediately Hannukah right after, we should gaze into the light of the Menorah, the light of the first candle of Hannukah, and for eternity the light of the Torah.  

SHABBAT SHALOM!
HANNUKAH SAMEAH!

Judaism=Think.

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