In this week’s parsha, we learn the story of the brothers selling Yosef. One of the brothers tries to stop the others from doing this terrible act: Ruevain. The question is: why was it Ruevain that tried to save Yosef more than any of the other brothers?

To answer this question, let’s begin in last week’s parsha. Yaakov’s main wife, Rochel, passes away, so Yaakov moves his bed from Rochel’s tent to Bilha’s tent (Rochel’s maidservant). Ruevain felt this was an embarrassment to his mother, Leah, and moved Yaakov’s bed from Bilha’s tent to Leah’s. After this event happened, Ruevain realized that he did a sin and began to do tshuvah (repentance) for his act. He literally sat in sackcloth and cried. Ruevain knew that the 12 brothers represented the 12 tribes of Yisroel, but he felt his sin was so serious that he might not be included as a Tribe anymore. This greatly worried him.

Then the beginning of this week’s parsha happens and Yosef has a dream. Yosef told his brothers his dream about the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowing down to him. The brothers began rebuking Yosef for this dream, except Ruevain was overjoyed. Ruevain realized the eleven stars represented the eleven brothers. If Yosef has eleven brothers, that means he is still included as a brother and, therefore, still counted as one of the Tribes. Ruevain was so thankful for hearing this news from Yosef, that he dedicated himself to help Yosef in any way possible. Therefore, Ruevain was the brother that tried to save Yosef; it was gratitude for Yosef telling him that he is still one of the tribes.

Think about this event though. Yosef’s intention was not to tell Ruevain that he was still one of the Tribes. Ruevain indirectly learned this information from hearing Yosef tell about his dream. Did Ruevain really need to show so much gratitude to Yosef? We see from here how far a person should go to be thankful to others. Even if a person does a favor and did not mean to, we are required to be thankful to them. Certainly, how much more so if a person does us a favor. This includes if the person that does us a favor is being paid to do it for us, like the bagger at the grocery store or a customer service representive or a security guard at the airport. Anyone that does us a favor deserves to be thanked for what they did. Let’s make everyday Thanksgiving Day!

Good Shabbos!
-yes
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