Shemos

The passuk states וימת יוסף וכל אחיו וכל הדור ההוא and Yosef died, and all his brothers, and that entire generation. The Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh explains the passuk lists three separate groups: Yosef, his brothers, and the 70 people who descended to Mitzrayim, which refers to that entire generation. This reflects that there was three different times which corresponded to significant changes between Bnei Yisrael and the Mitzri’im. When Yosef was alive, the Bnei Yisrael were tranquil and comfortable, and the Mitzri’im did not rule over them at all. However once Yosef died they went down from their greatness and became equal to the Mitzri’im. As long as one of the Shevatim was still alive, the Mitzri’im honored Bnei Yisrael. However once all of the Shevatim died, the Bnei Yisrael went down below the Mitzri’im, and they were viewed as lower class citizens, who were not treated with honor. As long as even one person from that entire generation was alive, the Bnei Yisrael were considered important in the Mitzri’im’s eyes and they didn’t have the chutzpah to enslave them. Only after that entire generation died did the Mitzri’im start the enslavement.

HaRav Chaim Shmuelevitz explained: as long as the Bnei Yisrael were honorable or even just important, the Mitzri’im were unable to enslave them. Only once the entire generation died and they were neither honorable nor important, were the Mitzri’im able to find place to enslave them. The Bnei Yisroel felt about themselves how the Mitzri’im viewed them, as lower class, and they became belittled even in their own eyes!

Says HaRav Chaim this is the technique of the yetzer hara with a person. First the yetzer hara lowers him to do things which are permitted to do, but not fitting for his caliber. Once the yetzer hara catches hold of a person, he pulls him past his limit, to have no boundaries. A person needs to recognize there is an avodah of raising himself to be an important and honorable person. With this he can be safe from chait. He will think to himself, “Am I, such an important and honorable person, able to do such an aveirah?” However if a person doesn’t raise himself up, he may lose himself to be convinced by the yetzer hara. A person might think to himself “What am I? What do I accomplish? What does it matter?” and other improper thoughts chas v’shalom. One needs to raise up his heart to serve Hashem. Once a person boosts up his outlook, and hopes to achieve heights, Hashem will help him be successful.

May Hashem help each person recognize his importance and honor, and may this enable one to rise above the challenges he faces!