YOSEF HATZDIK

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  In the Dungeon   In prison, Yosef's problems were far from over. This frenzied woman still would not leave him alone. She visited the prison regularly to weaken his resolve and to tempt him to succumb. She warned him in explicit terms of the consequences of his obstinacy. "So you think this is the last of your woes?" she menaced. "If you don't accede, I will have you bound in iron chains, bent over and unable to stand upright. I will have you blinded," she went on and on. Yosef was as firm, unmoved, and unimpressed as ever, still joyously serving his Maker with love and awe. Going all out to cajole him to look at her even just that once, even for a split second, she found herself powerless against the iron resolve in the wellsprings of his noble soul and never did he mar the perfection of his purity. Now, is it a wonder that we speak of him as Yosef Hatzaddik? Turnabout   Suddenly, there was an astounding turnabout in Yosef's fortune. After twelve long years, his eyes and soul still absolutely clean and untarnished, Yosef was hurried from his incarceration. By order of the king he was hastily groomed, suitably attired, and rushed to the palace to stand before Pharaoh, mighty King of Egypt. At dizzying speed, he was raised from wretched prisoner to the rank of second-in-command of the whole Egyptian Kingdom. The king's signet ring was placed on his finger; he was arrayed in linen robes and driven through the capital's streets. Can you picture the scene in ancient Egypt awaiting the gala procession and entourage? Crowds of jubilant citizens fill the streets. The rejoicing is palpable as the throngs begin their chanting. The Midrash Rabbah (98:18) describes how the daughters of the noblemen peeped out of their windows and threw their fine jewellery, piece by piece, into his royal chariot in the hope that this mesmerizingly handsome new viceroy might chance to look at them. Throughout all this exotic pomp and pageantry, Yosef's eyes remained lowered. His self-discipline is timeless. Targum Yerushalmi tells us how the daughters of the aristocrats exclaimed to one another in sheer amazement, "Oh, see this pious Yosef who does not follow his eyes or the temptations of his heart." Yosef's holy eyes themselves told it all - 100% innocence, pristine perfection like the clearest, most sparkling diamonds. Chazal tell us Yaakov's unstinting praise: "My son," he said proudly, "you did not glance at a single one of those women."

 

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GIVE ME YOUR HEART AND EYES

THE SPECIAL QUALITIES

Part 1

 

Then I Will Know you are Mine

 

A frequent guest in the home of the Shunamis was none other than Elisha Hanavi. She told her husband that this man was holy. How did she deduce that fact about Elisha Hanavi? Simply because he had never looked at her.

Chazal say (Midrash Vayikra 24:6) that in matters of arayos, restraint equals holiness. Just taking care to refrain from looking at the forbidden and from thinking lustful thoughts already earns one the title "kadosh." Rejection of impurity generates holiness. An unfathomable light of holiness envelops the man who conquers his lust - especially when it burns and races inside him.

It is not because Rebbi compiled the Mishnah that we refer to him as Rabbeinu Hakadosh. It's because he never in his life looked at the private parts of his body and, therefore, his soul was kadosh. In addition, he would never unnecessarily lower his hands below his waist; his body, too, was kadosh (Shabbos 118b).

What better way to bolster our resolve than to repeat the wonderful words that Hashem Himself has to say to us, "If you will give Me your heart and your eyes, then I will know that you are Mine," (Yalkut Shimoni, Mishlei ch. 27). Neither look at nor contemplate what is sinful, and automatically you qualify to be lifted beyond the grasp and the smallness of this temporal existence and to have Hashem Himself fill every corner of your life.