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Why did Yaakov wait until his second visit to explain Rochel's burial to Yosef, rather than addressing Yosef's hard feelings when requesting his own burial? Yaakov deliberately wanted Yosef to agree while still harboring grievances, proving the favor was given freely rather than out of obligation. This teaches that favors never make us creditors - we help others because it's right, not to create debts.
This profound shiur examines a puzzling sequence in Parshas Vayechi where Yaakov makes two separate visits to Yosef. In the first visit, Yaakov asks Yosef to bury him in Israel, prefacing his request with 'if I find favor in your eyes.' Later, during a second visit when Yaakov is ill, he suddenly explains why he buried Rochel on the roadside rather than in Beis Lechem, telling Yosef that it was done by divine command so Rochel could pray for the Jewish people during their future exile. The Rabbi asks a penetrating question: why didn't Yaakov explain Rochel's burial during the first visit when he was asking Yosef to bury him in Israel? Rashi (רש"י) indicates that Yaakov knew Yosef had 'hard feelings' about his mother's burial, so wouldn't it make sense to address these feelings when making his request?
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Parshas Vayechi 47:28-48:7
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