Friday, January 6, 2023

Shoulder

 Why did Yaakov give שכם to Yosef?  Why did he tell him he obtained it בחרבי ובקשתי, why is that important to know?   

The possuk in Tzafanyah (3:9) says כִּֽי־אָ֛ז אֶהְפֹּ֥ךְ אֶל־עַמִּ֖ים שָׂפָ֣ה בְרוּרָ֑ה לִקְרֹ֤א כֻלָּם֙ בְּשֵׁ֣ם י״י֔ לְעׇבְד֖וֹ שְׁכֶ֥ם אֶחָֽד.  The word שכם is associated with everyone serving Hashem.  Yosef is the only one of the shevatim that can bring kedusha to even the land of tumah, Egypt.  Yosef is able to gather kedusha from all places.  Rav Kook (Kovetz 1 867) says that is why Yehoshua (a descendent of Yosef,) was not mevatal avodah zarah (see Arachin 32b) because he was able to see the good in it.  Yosef units the world in the service of Hashem.  

The Sfas Emes says that שכם stands for שם כבוד מלכותו.  When we say שמע we acknowledge Hashem's presence.  When we say ברוך שם we acknowledge that presence of Hashme even as it is concealed in the העלם of the world.  It is Yosef that is able to draw out the kedusha from within the darkest areas.  Hence it is befitting that he receive the city of Shechem.  (See also Meor Vashemesh.) 

The Sfas Emes (Titzaveh 5657) ובאפוד היו ב' אבני שוהם שהם בחי' יוסף שמעלה השבטים למדריגה עליונה כמ"ש קמה אלומתי כו' תסובינה אלומותיכם כו'. וכתיב נתתי לך שכם אחד על אחיך. כמו משכמו ומעלה גבוה. ולכן בזכות אבנו העלה כל השבטים על כתפות האפוד.  Again, Yosef is associated with the shoulder raising up all of the shevatim. 

בחרבי ובקשתי the Targum says means prayer.  When one prays, they draw themselves closer to Hashem.  Only when there is a Yosef who can bring kedusha to שכם can one then fully recognize the power of prayer and bring it closer to Hashem.  The actions of Yosef help fulfill the חרבי ובקשתי (see maamer of Rebbe ואני נתתי 5632.) 

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