By Shalom Olensky
This week in the Torah:
After Joseph, now the Viceroy in Egypt, reveals his identity to his brothers, they openly reunite, with Joseph forgiving his brothers as well as their gratitude towards him for looking upon them favorably. Joseph sends his brothers back home, to Canaan, to gladden their father, Jacob, of Joseph’s survival and, indeed, great standing, and to bring Jacob and the whole family down to Egypt. Before the brothers leave, Joseph tells them, “Do not be agitated while traveling.”
Meaning:
The sages, seemingly, differ in interpreting these words of Joseph. The general gist is that Joseph told his brothers to study Torah on their journey. But using what terms? One opinion: “Study Torah on the way.” A second opinion: “Make sure not to omit Torah study on the way.”
Question:
What is the difference between these two versions?
Answer:
Learning Torah during travel is a must, for one of two reasons:
- As part of the general obligation to study Torah as much as possible. (Hence, the language, “Do not omit Torah study (even) while traveling.”)
- As a protection for the traveler. (Hence, the language positively instituting Torah study during travel.)
However, upon analysis:
It seems more probable that Joseph was telling his scholarly brothers something about (Torah during) travel in particular, than about the parameters of Torah study in general.
A third opinion:
Joseph was telling his brothers to study Torah in depth on their journey.
Question:
What is the reason for the differing opinions, whether Torah study, while traveling, must be in depth or not?
Explanation:
Amongst the reasons why Torah must be studied during travel, there is a) because of the greatness of the Torah itself which affords protection, and b) because of the unity of the student with the Torah so that the student himself becomes holy and automatically protected.
The Torah is great whether studied cursorily or in depth. For the Torah student to unite wholly with the Torah, however, the study must be in depth.
Hence, the two opinions: a) any kind of Torah study protects, b) in-depth Torah study is required to unite the student with the protecting Torah.
Question:
Why was this journey singled out by Joseph as needing more protection?
Answer:
All other journeys were either life preserving missions, or matters of lofty Divine worship. In this case, the sons of Jacob were traveling in order to move Jacob, themselves, and all of their families, downward to what was to become the Egyptian Exile.
Lesson:
The way to protect oneself from matters of Exile, is the in-depth study of Torah.
(Based on Likkutei Sichos, Vol. 35, Vayigash)
