Beit Yisrael International Parashat Vayeshev 5786-13 December 2025 / 23 Kislev 5786
Beit Yisrael International Parashat Vayeshev 5786-13 December 2025 / 23 Kislev 5786
“Gaddi’s Notes on the Eternal Wisdom of the Prominent Sages”:
“Fire and Flame: How Yosef Completes the Mission of Yaakov”
“Yaakov’s Desire for Peace, Yosef’s Suffering, and the Mystery of Mashiach ben Yosef.”
I. “Yaakov Sought to Dwell in Tranquility” — The Sages’ First Gate
Rashi – The Righteous Cannot Rest
Rashi opens the parashah with the famous statement:
“The righteous wish to dwell at ease… but Hashem says: Is the tranquility prepared for them in the World to Come not enough for them?”
Meaning:
This world is not designed for menuchah (rest)
This world is the battlefield of Tikkun
A tzaddik who asks for rest triggers higher spiritual work
Beit Yisrael Insight: Gaddi Efrayim teaches that Yaakov’s desire to rest is not laziness but a holy longing for the taste of Olam HaBa in this world. But Heaven responds: “Not yet. There are sparks in Egypt waiting for you.”
Ramban – Yaakov’s Life Cannot Be Complete Until Egypt
Ramban notes that Eleh Toldot Yaakov is not a story about comfort—it is the story leading to exile. Why?
Because Yaakov must walk the path that leads:
to Galut Mitzrayim ,
which leads to Sinai,
which leads eventually to the Final Redemption.
Ramban’s message: The story of Yosef is the beginning of the Redemption Process.
Sforno – The Righteous Seek Peace to Serve God Perfectly
Sforno explains that Yaakov desired peace to fulfill Torah with clarity—not for personal pleasure. But God redirected him to something greater:
To father the spiritual architecture of Israel’s future exile.
Gaddi Note: Every time we seek spiritual peace, Heaven sends a mission.
II. The Lubavitcher Rebbe — "Peace in This World Is False Peace"
The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains:Peace in this world is fragmented; only the World to Come reveals unity.
In this world:
we perceive pieces
we see separation
we experience contradiction
Thus: “How can a tzaddik rest when the world is broken?”Gaddi Efrayim expands: This is not punishment — it is calling.When a tzaddik seeks rest, Heaven answers: “If you see the world is not yet whole, it means you are needed to fix it.”
This is why immediately after “ Yaakov settled…” comes:“…the troubles of Yosef.”
Because Yosef is the bridge between:
the tranquility of Yaakov
and the chaos of the world
III. Yosef as the Tikkun of This World — Zohar & Chassidut
Zohar (I:179b) – The Righteous and the Evil Inclination
Because:
Azazel crouches daily at the door of the tzaddik.
A tzaddik is never allowed to be passive.
Yosef’s suffering is the purification of the world.
Baal Shem Tov – “Descent for the Sake of Ascent”
The Baal Shem Tov says:“Yerida tzorech aliyah — every descent of a tzaddik is for the sake of a greater ascent of the world.”
Yosef’s descent:
to the pit
to slavery
to prison
…and was not a personal fall—it was the world’s elevation via his soul.
Rebbe Nachman — Yosef as the Tzaddik Yesod Olam
Rebbe Nachman teaches (Likutey Moharan 56):Yosef represents the Tzaddik who holds the universe together (Yesod).
Yesod:
channels divine blessing
withstands temptation
connects heaven and earth
Thus Yosef’s suffering was the repair of:sexual purity, humility, jealousy, speech, and emunah.
IV. Eleh Toldot Yaakov: Yosef — Why Only Yosef?
Midrash Tanchuma – Yosef Is the Flame
The Midrash says:“Yaakov saw Esav’s chieftains and feared. God said: ‘These are the generations of Yaakov: Yosef.’ One spark from Yosef will consume Esav.”
Yaakov is fire
Yosef is flame
Esav is straw
Flame > FireFlame extends, moves, penetrates. Thus Yosef becomes the instrument of subduing Esav.
Targum Yonatan“The progeny of Esav shall only fall to the progeny of Yosef.”
Yosef has the power to:
dismantle evil at its root
dissolve arrogance
uproot falsehood
shatter spiritual Esav
V. The Kabbalistic Dimension — Yosef as Mashiach ben Yosef
Arizal – Yosef is the Soul-Root of Mashiach ben Yosef
The Arizal writes that Yosef is the archetype of Mashiach ben Yosef:
suffers for Israel
fights Esav
gathers the exiles
prepares the world for redemption
Thus:Yosef’s story = blueprint of the future redemption.
Ramak – Yosef repairs Yesod, the bridge of worlds
Ramak explains that Yesod is the spiritual channel that unites:
upper worlds (spiritual)
lower worlds (physical)
Yosef’s suffering purified the conduit of divine flow for all future generations.
VI. Beit Yisrael & Gaddi Ephraim Notes — The Deep Secret
Beit Yisrael teaches:
Yosef is not only a biblical character—
He is the operating system of Tikkun Olam.
Gaddi Efrayim's notes summarize it this way:
1. Yosef = Spiritual Technology
Just as modern technology connects the world, Yosef connects:
divisions
nations
ideas
realities
He brings unity into fragmentation.
2. Yosef = The Suffering Engineer of Redemption
Yosef’s life is the prototype of Mashiach ben Yosef: the redeemer who fixes the world through pain.
3. Yaakov = Fire (Chochmah)Yosef = Flame (Yesod)Esav = Straw (Gevurah distorted)
The flame extends the fire's power. Yosef extends Yaakov’s holiness into the darkest places—Egypt.
4. Yaakov’s desire for rest = longing for Olam HaBa
But Heaven says:“Before the Final Shabbat comes the mission.”Thus Yosef is born as the answer to Yaakov’s longing.
5. Yosef is the Leader of Exile
Beit Yisrael emphasizes:
Every soul of Israel walking through personal darkness is following Yosef.
Every spiritual leader who must face misunderstanding walks the path of Yosef.
Every soul tasked with healing broken families carries Yosef’s mantle.
VII. The Inner Message — Why the Parashah Opens With Suffering
1. Because Redemption Begins With Fracture
Before any redemption:
a pit
a betrayal
a misunderstanding
a descent
Yosef must go down so that Israel can go up.
2. Because the Righteous Do Not Belong to This World
The tzaddik cannot rest because if he rests, the world collapses.
3. Because Yaakov & Yosef Are Two Halves of One Soul
Yaakov is the ideal. Yosef is the application.Yaakov is perfection. Yosef is execution.
In Beit Yisrael language:Yaakov is the Torah of Light; Yosef is the Light entering reality.
Sages & Sources:
Midrash Rabbah — Yosef is the “image of Yaakov.”
Rav Hirsch — Yosef brings Yaakov’s Torah down to practical reality.
Zohar — Yosef is “Yesod” — the channel of Divine flow.
Baal Shem Tov — Yosef is the tzaddik who connects worlds.
VIII. Final Beit Yisrael Teaching — The Spark of Yosef in Each Soul
Gaddi Ephraim teaches:
“Every Israel has a spark of Yosef, a mission to descend into their personal Egypt to elevate sparks for the Final Redemption.”
Yosef’s message to us:
If you are betrayed — you are Yosef.
If you are misunderstood — you are Yosef.
If you are in a pit — you are Yosef.
If you are rising despite pain — you are Yosef.
If you carry global responsibility — you are Yosef.
And that spark will one day ignite the world with Yaakov’s fire.
Tzaddik Yesod Olam-Mashiach ben Yosef and Mashiach ben David
Below is a deep, structured, classical–Kabbalistic exposition of the concept Tzaddik Yesod Olam, Mashiach ben Yosef, Mashiach ben David, and their mystical partnership — fully grounded in the writings of Tanakh, Zohar, Midrash, Vilna Gaon, Arizal, Ramchal, Maharal, Rav Kook, Kol HaTor, and Chassidut.
I. FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLE: TZADDIK YESOD OLAM
1. Source Verse“Tzaddik Yesod Olam — The righteous one is the foundation of the world.” (Prov. 10:25)
Chazal and Kabbalistic sages explain:
“Tzaddik” = the one who channels Divine energy
“Yesod” = the spiritual conduit uniting Heaven and Earth
“Olam” = the created world, both physical and spiritual
2. Vilna Gaon (Gra): Yosef = YesodThe Gra (Kol HaTor 2:15; 2:28; 2:127) teaches:
3.Gematria Insight (Gra & Baal HaTurim)Yosef = 156Shem Havayah (26) × 6 = 156
Why 6?
Yesod is the 6th Sefirah of Ze'ir Anpin
It channels all six emotional Sefirot
Yosef = the complete vessel for Divine flow
Conclusion:Yosef = the perfected Yesod = spiritual foundation of Israel’s survival.
II. TWO MESSIAHS, TWO SEFIROT
1. Mashiach ben Yosef (MbY) = YesodAccording to the Arizal, Gaon, and Rav Kook:
MbY corresponds to the Sefirah of Yesod
He repairs the body of the nation
He fights physical threats
He gathers exiles, rebuilds infrastructure, defends Israel
He prepares the world for Malkhut
MbY = Connection, Foundation, Infrastructure, Purity.
2. Mashiach ben David (MbD) = MalkhutMalkhut is:
The “collective soul” of Israel
The dwelling place of the Shekhinah
The final revelation of Divine kingship
MbD is not simply one man’s soul but: The soul of the nation itself in its perfected form.MbD = Kingship, Revelation, Unity, Leadership.
3. Their RelationshipZohar (Vayechi 249a), Arizal (Sha'ar HaGilgulim), and Gaon explain:
Yesod and Malkhut are inseparable
Yesod gives; Malkhut receives
Yesod prepares; Malkhut reveals
Ben Yosef works in concealment; Ben David in revelation
Yesod → channels divine flowMalkhut → manifests divine presence
Just as a river must have a source (Yesod) and a basin (Malkhut), so must redemption have two redeemers.
III. WHEN BEN YOSEF LIVES — ISRAEL IS UNITED
According to Rav Kook (Shemuot HaRe'iyah, Vayishlach):
1. Ben Yosef = “eiver ha-mekasher”He is the organ that connects upper and lower worlds, symbolizing:
Union
Continuity
Covenant
Nationhood
Shared destiny
2. When MbY thrives → Israel thrivesBecause:
He binds tribes
He mends fractures
He stabilizes the nation
He protects externally and internally
He builds physical and spiritual infrastructure
This is why Yosef:
fed his brothers
sustained their families
became provider to nations
Ben Yosef = the unifier of Israel’s body.
IV. WHEN BEN YOSEF IS “BROKEN” — THE NATION DIVIDES
The Gra (Kol HaTor 2:61, 2:124) explains:When the force of Ben Yosef is weakened or “dies” spiritually:
unity collapses
fragmentation increases
tribalism arises
Shekhinah goes into deeper exile
Israel becomes vulnerable physically and spiritually
Yosef’s “death” = national disunity.This is not literal death, but:
obstruction of his mission
concealment of unity
failure to recognize the spark of Yosef
national division
Which is why the exile begins with the sale of Yosef.
V. “OD YOSEF CHAI” — THE HIDDEN REDEEMER NEVER DIES
Kol HaTor 2:1 emphasizes:“The two messiahs are alive in every generation.”
This means:
Their soul roots exist continuously
Their missions operate invisibly
They spiritually sustain Israel
They influence national events
Their powers remain hidden until the generation is ready
Od Yosef Chai — Yosef livesmeans:
Yesod is never cut
Unity is never lost
Hope never ends
The foundation always remains intact
Even when hidden, Yosef’s light sustains the nation.
VI. THE TWO MESSIAHS MUST BE UNITED (Kol HaTor 2:1)
Kol HaTor states a profound teaching:
1. They must cooperate“The two meshichim cooperate and help one another.”Yesod and Malkhut must align, or:
Yesod’s flow is blocked
Malkhut lacks vitality
The Shekhinah remains in exile
2. They exist in every generation“They are alive and exist in every generation.”Their soul-forces shape Jewish history even when individuals are unaware.
3. Their powers affect each other“They affect one another with their powers and attributes.”Meaning:
Yesod strengthens Malkhut
Malkhut gives purpose to Yesod
Body (David) and soul (Yosef) sustain one another
4. Israel cannot exist without them“Israel could not exist for even one moment without them.”The Gra teaches:
Ben Yosef = survival
Ben David = purpose
Without survival and purpose — the nation falls.
5. They are hidden due to Israel’s sins“Their powers, images, and endowments are hidden as long as the Shekhinah is in exile.”The redeemers are concealed from the eyes of Israel in eras of:
ego
division
spiritual blindness
materialism
sin’at chinam (baseless hatred)
6. They function only when united“They can operate and affect only when no one disturbs or separates them.”If Israel:
separates Yosef from David, chooses tribalism
rejects unity — then the mission is delayed
VII. SUMMARY OF THE SAGE-BASED FRAMEWORK
Yosef = Yesod (Foundation, Channel, Union)
David = Malkhut (Kingship, Purpose, Revelation)
Redemption requires BOTH.
Their souls exist in every generation.
Concealment is due to exile conditions.
“Od Yosef Chai” = The foundation is eternal.
Recognition of Ben Yosef unlocks final redemption.
Unity of these two forces restores the Shekhinah.
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