We’ve all seen, either first-hand or via the media, the terrible destruction that Hurricane Sandy wrought. Imagine an individual who decides to volunteer and help those whose homes experienced great damage. He visits one such homeowner who is assessing the damage to his home, standing in his basement and looking at his waterlogged foundation, which is beyond repair. The stench of mold is unbearable. The volunteer steps up and pulls out a can of air freshener and begins to spray, saying, “Here, this should help.” His intentions might be good, but the accomplishment is nil.
This week’s Torah portion, Vayeshev, features the story of young Joseph being sold as a slave by his older brothers.[1] The Torah states, “Behold a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming…and their camels were laden with spices…” (Genesis 37:25) Upon seeing the Ishmaelites, the brothers decide to sell Joseph to them, which eventually leads to his going down to Egypt and becoming a slave. It is interesting to note that the Torah describes specifically what the camels were carrying. We know that there isn’t a word in the Torah that isn’t important. What is the significance of the content of the camels’ load?
Rashi (1040-1105), the classic commentator, fills us in on what this seemingly insignificant fact is teaching us. Ordinarily these merchants would carry petroleum and other foul-smelling merchandise. The fact that on this particular day the merchants were carrying pleasant-scented merchandise was out of the ordinary. This was no coincidence, continues Rashi, but rather it was ordained from on high, so that Joseph, who was a righteous individual, should not have to suffer on his journey with the foul-smelling items that they usually carried.
This explanation does shed light on why the Torah details the camels’ load. However Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevits (1902-1978), one of the greatest Torah sages of his time, asked a question (in his book Sichos Mussar) on the above explanation. Would the scent accompanying Joseph on his journey really make a difference to him in his dire predicament? Imagine for a moment being in Joseph’s shoes at that time. He’s a young hapless teenager being taken to an unknown destiny with no way of contacting his father for help. No way to call, text, email – nothing! Is a scent going to make a difference? It can almost be compared to the volunteer in the above-mentioned scenario who sprays air-freshener in the midst of post-hurricane chaos! (It makes no scents!)
The Rabbi answers with an exceptional insight. When a person goes through difficult times in life, it can be very difficult to see that G-d is really with him. We know that G-d, in His infinite wisdom, has a master plan that sometimes places us in various predicaments that we may encounter throughout our lives. At times, the situation is less than pleasant, to say the least, making it very difficult to perceive that, indeed, G-d is with us. Only later, when the difficult situation resolves, can we possibly see how the challenges we faced were really for our benefit. Unfortunately, it is not often that we are worthy of achieving this insight. But undoubtedly, whether we recognize it or not, G-d is with us throughout all ordeals.
Joseph, at that moment in his life, almost certainly despaired, and perhaps thought to himself, “G-d, where are You in my time of need?” Because Joseph was righteous, G-d sent him a sign to show him, “I’m still with you.” That sign was manifested in the merchandise the camels were carrying. G-d altered the camels’ load that day not merely to make the journey pleasant for Joseph, but rather to remind him that even though things may look bleak, there’s a reason why all of this was happening to him, even though he may not understand it at that momenbt. G-d was still with him, and still loved him. Indeed, the Torah later describes how Joseph’s going down to Egypt eventually led to his being able to save his family from starvation.
In another take on this concept, Rabbi Shmuelevits explains a statement from the Talmud regarding the holiday of Chanukah. The Talmud in Tractate Shabbos (21a) asks: Based on what miracle was the holiday of Chanukah established? The Talmud answers that it was the miracle of the oil that should have burned for one day, but instead miraculously lasted for eight days. This seems a bit puzzling. One would think that the holiday should have been established to commemorate the miracle of the military victory of the Macabees over the mighty Greeks. The entire Jewish nation, or to be more precise, Judaism itself, was in mortal danger of being annihilated. If not for the miracle of the Macabees’ military victory, the Jews would have been a thing of the past! Shouldn’t this miracle have been the basis for the holiday of Chanukah?
The great Rabbi explained the above as follows: Why was it necessary for G-d to make a miracle of oil burning for eight days? The miracle of the Macabee victory is understandable, for without it the Jews would no longer be. But what would have been so terrible if the oil had burned for one day, as it was supposed to, and then the menorah would have been re-lit as soon as new oil became available? Precisely because of this difference, G-d performed the miracle of the oil. If the military victory had been the only miracle, G-d’s love for the Jews in their time of need would not have been as apparent. The Macabees’ victory was a necessity for the continuity of the Jews. It was the miracle of the oil that wasn’t necessary – it simply showed G-d’s love for the Jews. A child doesn’t necessarily see his parents’ love when they provide him with the necessities of life. However, when parents go the extra mile and buy the child something extra, then the child appreciates the parents’ love. So too, the fact that the oil burned for eight days, which wasn’t necessary, showed that G-d had gone the extra mile, and this made apparent His love for the Jews in their time of need.
May we merit to always recognize
the love G-d displays towards us, no matter the situation!
[1] In truth, when talking about the story of Joseph and his brothers, about it is important to note that this is not simply a typical case of sibling rivalry. Since about the individuals involved are our holy forefathers, the twelve tribes who were to become the foundation of the Jewish people, it is necessary to study the story through the eyes of the commentators who explain this story in its proper light. Perhaps this can be the subject of a future essay.