With the help of God, the brave soldiers of Israel’s defense forces continue to seek and root out our enemies, bring the hostages home and ensure the continued security of Israel’s citizens from future attacks. Media reports indicate that Hamas is weakened, Hezbollah is significantly degraded, Iranian air defenses are depleted and the Syrian government has recently collapsed. Negotiations to free hostages held in underground Hamas tunnels for 450 days have gained momentum as representatives return to Doha, Qatar. Cautiously optimistic of a dystopian post October 7 world, we continue to daven and learn for our acheinu Bnei Yisroel, our brothers and sisters, reminding ourselves of the eternal words from the Kotzker Rebbe: “There is nothing more whole than a broken heart.” (Thank you, Liev Schreiber!)
Perhaps we can draw a connection between the parsha and the hostages of our current time.
As the famine intensified, Yaakov feared that between the loss of Yosef, Shimon’s imprisonment, and Binyamin facing a dreadful journey down to Egypt, all would be lost. “My son (Benjamin) shall not go down with you, for his brother (Joseph) is dead and he (Benjamin) is left. Should disaster befall him on the journey which you shall take, then you will have brought me down in sorrow to the grave” (Genesis 42:38).
Chazel explain that when Yaakov said, “ukra-eha ason baderech, should disaster (fatality) befall him on the journey,” he was expressing concern that Binyamin should not die by accident at the hand of Heaven (see BT Ketubot, 30a). Meaning, Yaakov was worried that Satan may testify against Binyamin while traveling, which is a time of increased danger (see YT, Shabbat 2:6).
Seeking to calm his father, Reuven stepped forward and pledged his two sons as collateral (lest he return without Binyamin). Unwilling to wager the lives of his two grandchildren, Yaakov declined Reuven’s offer. Yehuda then approached his father saying, “Anochi A’ervenu Miyadi Tivakshenu, I will guarantee him (i.e., Benjamin); of my own hand you can demand him” (Genesis 43:9). Yaakov immediately accepted Yehuda’s offer, as the verse states, “Take your brother, and arise, and return to the man” (Ibid., 43:13).
What was the hidden message that Yehuda delivered that calmed Yaakov to confidently send Binyamin, and why did Yehuda use repetitive language, to be both a guarantor (a’ervenu) and obligor (tivakshenu)? After all, one cannot sign a legal document pledging to be both an obligor and guarantor.
My dear chavruta, Reb Avraham Backenroth, explains that according to Rebbi Yochanan, the word anochi is an acronym for “Anah Nafshi (I, God) ktivat (wrote (this Torah)) yehavit (and delivered it to you, Klal Yisroel),” (BT Shabbat 105b). In other words, Yehuda sent a subtle yet powerful message to his father Yaakov: God alone is the guarantor of my future success. Now that Anochi, God is our a’ervenu, guarantor, then I can confidently state miyadi, from my hand, tivakshenu, I will be the obligor.
We have no idea what the future will yield. However, once we submit our trust to God, then, Yehuda petitioned, we will find success as obligors— miyadi tivakshenu —through our efforts and labor of our hands. In other words, the next chapter of Jewish history will not come through the strength of my hand, but rather through God alone, as guarantor.
An individual’s true character is not revealed by the difficulties they encounter in life but rather by their ability to rebound and learn from prior shortcomings. Yes, the brothers were pained to see their father in a state of constant mourning following Yehuda’s advice to sell instead of murder their brother Yosef. This resulted in a “fall from grace,”,as the verse states, “Yehuda went down from his brothers (Ibid., 38:1). However, in a powerful display of unshakeable confidence, Yehuda rose from among his brothers and publicly declared his faith in God and self-assurance that he will never turn his back on Binyamin—or on any of his brothers. Yaakov immediately accepted Yehuda’s message and pressed forward.
This timeless message was as relevant then as it is today. We must energize ourselves and internalize the eternal words of Yehuda that God is our guarantor. Anochi a’ervenu miyadi tivakshenu. In so doing, may our tefillot, bakashot (supplications) and efforts, big and small, carry the confidence of a lion, securing the safe return of every “Binyamin” awaiting immediate release from captivity. As the verse states, “And of Binyamin he said, ‘The Lord’s beloved one shall dwell securely beside Him; He protects him all day long, and He dwells between his shoulders’” (Devarim, 33:12).
Mordechai Plotsker runs a popular 10-minute nightly shiur on the parsha with a keen interest on the invigorating teachings of the Berditchever Rav, the Kedushas Levi. Shiurenjoyment.com.
Plotsker resides in Elizabeth with his wife and children, and can be reached by email at [email protected].
