12/26/2025
Powerful thought for Shabbat from Rabbi Choli —
*Unity over Blame*
Why does Yosef ask, “Is my father still alive?”
This question comes at one of the most dramatic moments in the Torah. For over twenty years, Yosef has been separated from his family. His brothers believe he is long gone. Yaakov has lived in mourning, convinced that his beloved son was torn apart. Now, after a tense series of encounters in Egypt, Yosef finally reveals his identity.
The strange thing is that Yosef already knows the answer. Throughout their conversations, the brothers repeatedly emphasized that their father was alive, elderly, and deeply fragile. Yehudah’s long plea was built entirely around the danger Yaakov would face if Binyamin did not return. So why, at the moment of revelation, does Yosef ask a question whose answer he already knows?
Yosef understood that the instant he revealed he was still alive, his brothers might immediately begin arguing about who was responsible for selling him. He knew this was not the right moment for blame or confrontation.
Instead, Yosef redirected their attention to what truly mattered most: their father’s life. The urgent priority was to reunite Yaakov with Yosef as quickly as possible. That had to come before everything else.
In doing so, Yosef teaches us a powerful lesson. In pivotal moments—like the ones we find ourselves in today—our primary focus should not be on identifying who caused the problem, how we got here, or engaging in disputes. Those discussions may have their place, but not at moments of crisis. Rather, our focus must be on what brings us together.
“How do we keep our father alive?”
“How do we keep going as a people?”
The answer is by immediately seeking unity among ourselves. Unity is our superpower.
Especially in light of recent events affecting the Jewish people, this message is more relevant than ever. We must stand together, regardless of affiliation or differences. Our strength, our survival, and our future depend on it.
Amen.
