Mizrachi UK Machshavot - Vayigash 5781

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20/20 Vision Rabbi Andrew Shaw Chief Executive, Mizrachi UK After 49 years, it finally happened.

I received my first pair of glasses.

Why now? The answer may be obvious – my eyes needed them, so I got glasses. However, the answer is not so simple.

For years I used to love going to the eye doctor, I thankfully had very good eyesight, so could always read even the smallest letters.

I felt very proud of myself, even though it was nothing to do with me – Hashem had given me these eyes. Later on, I felt less proud, and more thankful.

I probably had eye tests every two to three years as a kid, but as I got older as I felt no issues with my eyes, so tests became less and less frequent.

I think my last one was three or four years ago as I had no issues.

However last week something changed, I was watching something on a screen, I was a few metres away – and there were subtitles, and they were a bit blurry – I was shocked. I had no issues with my computer, my siddur or any book whatsoever. So I booked an eye test. I sat down in the chair, and the letters went up. I didn’t get far until they became blurry.

For the first time in my life, I didn’t ace the letters!

Then, the optician popped some lenses in a frame – and all the letters became clear.

Within a few days I had my glasses, just to use while driving or watching or looking from distance.

When I got into the car and put on my glasses – I was shocked. For months, maybe years, I had driven around the country and not realised that I was not seeing everything with a crisp quality – it was wonderful to see as I drove. I felt I could see the world in a much more brilliant way. Had I not watched that night with subtitles on – I may still be going around not seeing the world in a crisp, clear way.

They said ideally we should have 20/20 vision.

As we come to the end of 2020, what a nightmarish vision it has been. Yet I feel that the main issue with the world and with a lot of our nation – is that they cannot see. They think they know – but they have no idea. They are ‘blind’.

The Chofetz Chaim has a powerful idea on the parsha that will shed light on our ‘blindness’.

In Vayigash, Yehudah confronts Yosef. Eventually Yosef can bear it no longer: ‘Yosef called out, "Take everyone away from me!" So no one stood with him when Yosef made himself known to his brothers. And he wept out loud, so the Egyptians heard and the house of Pharaoh heard. And Yosef said to his brothers, "I am Yosef.

Is my father still alive?" but his brothers could not answer him because they were startled by his presence.’ (Bereishit 45:1-3) Why were the brothers silent? Says the Chofetz Chaim – they suddenly got it, there was nothing to say, the last 22 years suddenly became clear! They could finally see.

It will be the same at the end of days, when Hashem finally reveals Himself to the world, the veil will be lifted and we will understand all of history and see that it was all part of His plan.

Look at 2020.

Over the last year we have seen how a tiny microscopic virus can play havoc with the entire globe.

Over the last year we have seen Israel make peace with more nations in one year than in the previous 72.

Over the last year we have seen the world adopt an almost halachic way of life to deal with the virus None of us know why things happen, but we all need to understand that there is a Divine plan and for us to play our part we have to put on our spiritual ‘glasses’ and see the world as the Torah commands us to. To see the Divine hand in our personal, national and international lives.

At the start of Yosef’s journey, he was asked ‘Mah Tevakesh’, what do you seek?

We are told it was the angel Gavriel who spoke to him.

Listen well, Yosef. You are about to embark on one of the greatest odysseys in the history of mankind. You are going to be thrown into a pit. You are going to be taken down to Egypt. You are going to be sold into slavery. You are going to be falsely accused.

You are going to spend time in a dungeon. Then you are going to be taken out of the dungeon and become the viceroy in Egypt. In your lifetime, you are going to experience the greatest heights and the greatest depths. What is the key to success under those circumstances?

The key is to remember one thing: 'Mah Tevakesh?' You always have to be focused on what you want to accomplish in life, what is it you seek?"

2020 has been so different, but 2020 has also been the same.

We still have to realise that our goal is ‘shivti b vait hashem kol yemai chayai’ to dwell in Hashem’s house all our days, that never changes whether we are flying round the world, or in lockdown in our homes.

Our vision is clear.

May the world come to realise that before it is too late.

Shabbat Shalom