By Rabbi Dovid Markel
This week’s parsha, Vayechi, concludes the book of Bereishit and the story of creation and the patriarchs. When the Torah reader reads the final verse (Bereishit 50:26) “And Yosef died at the age of one hundred ten years, and they embalmed him and he was placed into the coffin in Egypt,” the congregation bursts out with the exclamation “chazak, chazak, venitchazek!”
It seems rather peculiar that the congregation would cheer at Yosef’s death—surely there is some lesson to be learned.
One thought to explain this is predicated on the slavery that begins in the book of Shemot.
After Yosef’s death, the enslavement of Israel began in earnest and they needed the spiritual energy to endure the terrible servitude.
It was in specifically in remembering Yosef that the Israelites were able to tolerate it. By keeping in mind Yosef who not only endured the exile but overcame it, they too were able to derive the spiritual fortitude to withstand it.
Yosef is a symbol that when a person has complete trust in HaShem, they are always joyful in their situation and can overcome all odds.
It was indeed for this reason that Yosef was interned in Egypt as opposed to his father, Yaakov, who had his body moved to Israel. Being that the Israelites needed that spiritual strength, it was important that his body be there too—to serve as a reminder that one can indeed overcome.
The lesson in our lives is obvious too: In the realization that there are awesome characters that overcame the spiritual darkness of exile to reach awesome heights, this reminds us that we too can overcome.
May the darkness of the exile, be speedily overturned; with the coming of Moshiach, Now!
