Miketz
The Gates of Tears
From the day that the Temple was destroyed, the heavenly gates of prayer
were locked. . . nevertheless, the gates of tears have
not been locked. (Talmud Bavli, Bava Metzia
59a).
When Yosef
first recognizes his brothers, he runs out of the room, cries, composes himself,
and returns. When Yehudah offers to become Yosef's slave in exchange for Binyamin's life, Yosef orders everyone except his brothers out of the room
and then sobs so loudly everyone in the building hears. He kisses each brother
in turn and cries on each brother's shoulder. When he finally sees his father Ya'akov, he embraces him and cries in his arms. What's the significance of the tears?
Shuly Rubin Schwartz (2008): Joseph's tears are a necessary
element in his transition to adulthood and to true leadership. Only when he has
found a way to reconcile his childhood grief with the possibility of a new
relationship with his brothers, his public persona with his private life, and
his invincible power with his vulnerability, does he emerge as a biblical hero who
fully ignites empathy and admiration.
Rabbi Eliyahu
Eliezer Dessler (c. 1940):
The closed gates of prayer are not to be found in the heavens. Rather, the
Talmud is describing our hearts that have been cordoned off from spirituality.
Even though we cognitively know that we should escape our own entrapment, we cannot simply will to overcome the blockage. Only through
intense emotion so earnest that we are brought to tears can we open to God and
become our true selves.
Return to Reb
Laura's "Taste of Torah" list.
Return to
"Teachings from Our Rabbis and Friends" list.
|
[ Home ] |
[ Asiyah
] |
[ Yetzirah ] |
[ Briyah ] |
[ Atzilut ] |
[ Calendar ] |
|
|
( Doing ) |
( Feeling ) |
( Knowing ) |
( Being ) |
|