When Yosef revealed himself to his brothers they were dumbstruck. The Torah describes the ensuing exchange: "Yosef said to his brother's, 'Please come close to me' and they came close. And he said, 'I am Yosef your brother whom you sold into Egypt'" (Bereishis 45:4). Rashi explains that when Yosef saw his brothers shrinking away from him, he was worried that they felt embarrassed. Therefore, he spoke to them in a gentle manner and entreated them to draw near to him.
If Yosef was truly looking to make the encounter more pleasant, why did he continue speaking so brusquely and tell them to their faces, "I am Yosef whom you sold into Egypt"? Why bring up their misdeed at the time of appeasement?
Rav Wolbe cites the answer given by the Alter of Kelm, who enlightens us with a timely message. At some point, Yosef was going to have to make mention about what had occurred. Hence, he preferred to immediately say everything that needed to be said, so that they would be able to move on and achieve true reconciliation. Had he kept his feelings bottled up inside, there would be a constant internal barrier between him and his brothers. In people's relationships with family members and friends, many times there are certain behaviors that irk a person to the degree that it jeopardizes the relationship. If in truth it is something trivial, then one should work on himself instead of trying to change his friend. However, if the friction was caused because the person was wronged, then it is crucial not to bottle up the feelings inside himself. Not only does such behavior not accomplish the desired result, it can also cause the bottled up feelings to explode at a later date making the possibility for a continued good relationship much harder. After receiving guidance on how to broach the topic, one should take the initiative and discuss the matter. It might not be easy, but it is short term pain for long term gain!
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After being informed that his son Yosef was still alive, Yaakov packed his bags and set off toward Mitzrayim. While still on the way, the Torah tells us, "He sent Yehuda ahead of him to Yosef, to prepare ahead of him in Goshen" (ibid. 46:28). Rashi cites the Medrash which explains that he sent Yehuda to open a Beis HaTalmud, so that it would be ready upon their arrival.
Rav Wolbe points out that Yaakov obviously felt that they could not enter Mitzrayim unless there already was a Beis Medrash in working order. Why did Yaakov feel so strongly about this, to the point that he would not set foot into a country without a Yeshiva?
When the Shevatim were all in Eretz Canaan, they were living in familiar territory. Yaakov was the Patriarch of the Jewish tribe and it was relatively easy for them to maintain their own identity. They were now about to enter a foreign land and their Jewish identity would be put in jeopardy. A person's surroundings have the ability to affect a person and blur his identity. So what does a Jew in galus do? He makes sure that there is a Yeshiva nearby.
Throughout the generations, the Yeshiva has been more than just a school designated for learning Gemara. It is the place which protects the identity of the Jewish People. Every Yeshiva is a link in the chain which spans millennia, back to Matan Torah and our forefathers (and from them back to Shem and Ever, Noach and Adam). The Yeshivos and Kollelim are the nuclei of the Jewish Nation, and creating a connection to these places is in effect creating a connection with Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov!
Important Numbers
