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Why was Moshe praised for taking Yosef's bones while others gathered Egyptian wealth when both were mitzvos? The shiur develops that Yosef served as architect of the redemption, making his burial a national rather than family responsibility. True leadership means prioritizing communal needs over personal benefit, as Moshe did.
This shiur presents a revolutionary perspective on Sefer Bereishis and the story of Yosef's request to have his bones taken out of Egypt. The Rav begins by addressing the Gemara (גמרא)'s statement that Moshe Rabbeinu was 'chakham lev' (wise-hearted) for taking care of Yosef's bones while everyone else was gathering gold and silver from the Egyptians. The question arises: both activities were mitzvos, so what made Moshe's choice superior? The analysis focuses on Rashi (רש"י)'s commentary about why Yosef made his brothers swear rather than his own children. Rashi explains that had Yosef died immediately, his children would have buried him, but since the burial would occur during the Exodus, he made his brothers responsible. The Rav identifies apparent contradictions in Rashi's explanation and offers a profound resolution.
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Parshas Vayechi - Yosef's request for his bones to be taken from Egypt
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