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Save "Joseph's Bones ~ Pesach VII
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Joseph's Bones ~ Pesach VII
Our portion

(יט) וַיִּקַּ֥ח מֹשֶׁ֛ה אֶת־עַצְמ֥וֹת יוֹסֵ֖ף עִמּ֑וֹ כִּי֩ הַשְׁבֵּ֨עַ הִשְׁבִּ֜יעַ אֶת־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר פָּקֹ֨ד יִפְקֹ֤ד אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶתְכֶ֔ם וְהַעֲלִיתֶ֧ם אֶת־עַצְמֹתַ֛י מִזֶּ֖ה אִתְּכֶֽם׃

(19) And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him; for he had surely sworn the children of Israel, saying: ‘God will surely remember you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.’

The beginning

(כה) וַיַּשְׁבַּ֣ע יוֹסֵ֔ף אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר פָּקֹ֨ד יִפְקֹ֤ד אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶתְכֶ֔ם וְהַעֲלִתֶ֥ם אֶת־עַצְמֹתַ֖י מִזֶּֽה׃ (כו) וַיָּ֣מָת יוֹסֵ֔ף בֶּן־מֵאָ֥ה וָעֶ֖שֶׂר שָׁנִ֑ים וַיַּחַנְט֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ וַיִּ֥ישֶׂם בָּאָר֖וֹן בְּמִצְרָֽיִם׃

(25) And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying: ‘God will surely remember you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.’ (26) So Joseph died, being a hundred and ten years old. And they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

The end

(לב) וְאֶת־עַצְמ֣וֹת י֠וֹסֵף אֲשֶׁר־הֶעֱל֨וּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל ׀ מִמִּצְרַיִם֮ קָבְר֣וּ בִשְׁכֶם֒ בְּחֶלְקַ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר קָנָ֧ה יַעֲקֹ֛ב מֵאֵ֛ת בְּנֵֽי־חֲמ֥וֹר אֲבִֽי־שְׁכֶ֖ם בְּמֵאָ֣ה קְשִׂיטָ֑ה וַיִּֽהְי֥וּ לִבְנֵֽי־יוֹסֵ֖ף לְנַחֲלָֽה׃

(32) And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in the parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money; and they became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.

ויקח משה את עצמות יוסף עמו – להודיע חכמתו וחסידותו של משה, שכל ישראל עוסקין בבזה – ומשה עוסק במצות עצמות יוסף. עליו הכתוב אומר (משלי י) "חכם לב יקח מצות, ואויל שפתים ילבט". ומשה, מהיכן היה יודע היכן היה קבור יוסף? – אמרו: סרח בת אשר נשתיירה מאותו הדור, והיא הראתה למשה קבר יוסף. אמרה לו: במקום הזה שמוהו!
(Exodus 13:19) "And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him": This apprises us of the wisdom and saintliness of Moses. All of Israel were occupying themselves with the spoils (of Egypt), and Moses was occupying himself with the mitzvah of the bones of Joseph. Of him it is written (Mishlei 10:8) "The wise of heart will take mitzvoth." And how did Moses know where Joseph was buried? It was said: Serach the daughter of Asher was left of that generation, and she showed Moses the grave of Joseph, saying to him: In that spot did they place him.
משה זכה בעצמות יוסף ואין בישראל גדול ממנו שנאמר (שמות יג, יט) ויקח משה את עצמות יוסף עמו מי גדול ממשה שלא נתעסק בו אלא המקום שנאמר (דברים לד, ו) ויקבור אותו בגיא לא על משה בלבד אמרו אלא על כל הצדיקים שנאמר (ישעיהו נח, ח) והלך לפניך צדקך כבוד ה' יאספך
Moses merited to be the only person involved in the transportation of Joseph’s bones to be buried in Eretz Yisrael, and there was none among the Jewish people greater than he, as it is stated: “And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him” (Exodus 13:19). Who had a greater burial than Moses, as no one involved himself in his burial other than the Omnipresent Himself, as it is stated: “And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab over against Beth Peor; and no man knows of his sepulcher unto this day” (Deuteronomy 34:6). The mishna comments: Not only with regard to Moses did the Sages say that God takes part in his burial, but also with regard to all the righteous individuals, as it is stated: “Your righteousness shall go before you and the glory of the Lord shall gather you in” (Isaiah 58:8).
דָּבָר אַחֵר, כָּל הַמִּצְוָה. אִם הִתְחַלְתָּ בְּמִצְוָה, הֱוֵי גּוֹמֵר אֶת כֻּלָּהּ. לָמָּה, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, כָּל מִי שֶׁמַּתְחִיל בְּמִצְוָה, וְאַחֲרֵי כֵן בָּא אַחֵר וּגְמָרָהּ, נִקְרֵאת עַל שֵׁם גּוֹמְרָהּ. מִמִּי אֶת לָמֵד, מִמּשֶׁה, כֵּיוָן שֶׁיָּצְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם, מַה כְּתִיב: וַיִּקַּח מֹשֶׁה אֶת עַצְמוֹת יוֹסֵף עִמּוֹ (שמות יג, יט). כָּל הָעָם עוֹסְקִין בַּבִּזָּה, וּמֹשֶׁה הָיָה מְטַפֵּל בְּעַצְמוֹת יוֹסֵף. בָּא וְעָמַד בֵּין הָאֲרוֹנוֹת, צָעַק וְאָמַר, יוֹסֵף יוֹסֵף, הִגִּיעָה הַשָּׁעָה שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא גּוֹאֵל אֶת בָּנָיו הַשְּׁכִינָה מְעַכֶּבֶת, יִשְׂרָאֵל וְעַנְנֵי כָּבוֹד מְעַכְּבִין לָךְ. אִם אַתָּה מְגַלֶּה אֶת עַצְמְךָ, מוּטָב. וְאִם לָאו אָנוּ נְקִיִּים מִשְּׁבוּעָתְךָ. מִיָּד נִזְדַּעְזֵעַ אֲרוֹנוֹ, נְטָלוֹ וְהָלַךְ. נִסְתַּלֵּק מֹשֶׁה בַּמִּדְבָּר וְלֹא נִכְנַס לָאָרֶץ. הִכְנִיסוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַצְמוֹת יוֹסֵף וְקָבְרוּ אוֹתָן, וְתָלָה הַמִּצְוָה בָּהֶן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְאֶת עַצְמוֹת יוֹסֵף אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם קָבְרוּ בִּשְׁכֶם (יהושע כד, לב). לְכָךְ אָמַר לָהֶם: כָּל הַמִּצְוָה. אָמַר רַבִּי יַנַּאי, כָּל הַמַּתְחִיל בְּמִצְוָה וְאֵינוֹ גּוֹמְרָהּ, קוֹבֵר אִשְׁתּוֹ וּשְׁנֵי בָּנָיו. מִמִּי אַתָּה לָמֵד. מִיְהוּדָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוּדָה אֶל אֶחָיו מַה בֶּצַע וְגוֹ' (בראשית לז, כו). יָשְׁבוּ לִפְרֹס עַל הַפַּת, אָמַר לָהֶם: הוֹרְגִים אָנוּ אֶת אָחֵינוּ וּמְבָרְכִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וּבֹצֵעַ בֵּרֵךְ נִאֵץ ה' (תהלים י, ג). לְכָךְ כְּתִיב: מַה בֶּצַע וְגוֹ'. לְכוּ וְנִמְכְּרֶנּוּ לַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִים. וְשָׁמְעוּ לוֹ, שֶׁהָיָה מֶלֶךְ. וְאִלּוּ אָמַר לָהֶם לְהַחְזִירוֹ אֶל אָבִיו, הָיוּ שׁוֹמְעִין לוֹ. אֶלָּא הִתְחִיל בַּמִּצְוָה וְלֹא גְּמָרָהּ. לְפִיכָךְ הַמַּתְחִיל בְּמִצְוָה, יְהֵא גּוֹמֵר אֶת כֻּלָּהּ. כָּל הַמִּצְוָה. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, כָּל הַלּוֹמֵד תּוֹרָה וְאֵינוֹ מְשַׁמֵּר אוֹתָהּ, נוֹחַ לוֹ שֶׁנֶּהְפְּכָה שִׁלְיָתוֹ עַל פָּנָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: תִּשְׁמְרוּן לַעֲשׂוֹת. אָמַר רַבִּי אֶחָא, כָּל מִי שֶׁמְּשַׁמְּרָהּ וְעוֹשֶׂה, זוֹכֶה שֶׁתִּשְׁרֶה עָלָיו רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: מַשְׂכִּיל לְאֵיתָן הָאֶזְרָחִי וְגוֹ' (שם פט, א). וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר לִיהוֹשֻׁעַ, לֹא יָמוּשׁ סֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה הַזֶּה מִפִּיךָ וְגוֹ' (יהושע א, ח). לְפִיכָךְ, תִּשְׁמְרוּן לַעֲשׂוֹת.

Another interpretation: "All of the mitzvah" (Deuteronomy 8:1). If you have began with a commandment, finish all of it. Why? Rabbi Yochanan said, "Anyone who began with a commandment, and afterwards another comes and finishes it, it will be called according to the name of the one who finishes it." From who do you learn [this]? From Moshe. When Israel left Egypt, what is written? "And Moses took the bones of Yosef with him" (Exodus 13:19). All of the people were involved in the plunder and he was taking care of Yosef's bones. He went and stood among the coffins. He called out and said, "Yosef, Yosef, the time has come for the Holy One, blessed be He, to redeem His children. The Divine Presence awaits [you], and Israel and the clouds of glory await [you]. If you will make yourself appear good, but if not, we will be free of your vow." [Whereupon] his coffin immediately stirred, and [Moses] took it and departed. Moshe departed in the wilderness and did not enter the Land. [So] Israel brought in Yosef's bones and buried them. And the commandment was dependent upon them, as it is stated (Joshua 24:32), "The bones of Joseph, which the Children of Israel had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shekhem." Therefore He said to them, "All of the commandment." Rabbi Yannai said, "Anyone who begins a commandment but does not finish it will bury his wife and two of his sons." From who do you learn [this]? From Yehudah, [where it is stated (Genesis 37:26),] "And Yehudah said to his brothers, 'What gain (betsa) [we get by killing our brother and covering up his blood?]'" They sat to prepare for the bread [and eat their meal]. He said to them, "We are going to kill our brother and then recite a blessing [over the bread]?" As it is stated (Psalms 10:3), "the one that loots (botsea) and blesses reviles the Lord." Hence is it written, "What gain, etc. come, let us sell him to the Yishmaelites" (Genesis 37:26-27). And they listened to him, as he was a king. And had he said to them to bring him back to his father, they would have listened to him. But rather he began with the commandment and did not finish it. Hence one who begins with a commandment should finish all of it. Rabbi Yochanan said, "Anyone who learns Torah but does not fulfill it, it is better for him to have his placenta roll over his face [and smother him as an infant], as it is stated (Deuteronomy 8:1), '[all the mitzvah I am commanding you today] you must guard to keep'" Rabbi Acha said, "Anyone who guards it to keep it, merits that the holy spirit should descend upon him, as stated (Psalms 89:1), 'A psalm of wisdom (maskil) of Eitan the Ezrachite, etc.' And so [too] did He say to Yehoshua (Joshua 1:8), 'Let not this Book of the Torah cease from your mouth... [and then will you comprehend (taskil)].'" Hence is it written, "to guard to keep."

(א) כל המצוה. כפשוטו ומדרש אגדה אם התחלת במצוה גמור אותה, שאינה נקראת אלא על שם הגומרה, שנאמר (יהושע כד, לב) ואת עצמות יוסף אשר העלו בני ישראל ממצרים קברו בשכם, והלא משה לבדו נתעסק בהם להעלותם, אלא לפי שלא הספיק לגמרה וגמרוה ישראל, נקראת על שמם:

(1) If you have begun a commandment, be sure to finish it, for only the one who finishes it get the credit, as it is written (Joshua 24:32), "The children of Israel buried the bones of Joseph, which they had brought up from Egypt, in Sh'khem." But didn't Moses alone bring the bones up (from Egypt)? Rather, (this teaches us that) because he did not manage to finish the commandment (of burying Joseph), the children of Israel did it, it was called by their name.

The word for "bones" in Hebrew being the same as the word for "essence," i.e. עצם. The Torah's report then has a dual meaning, i.e. Moses took Joseph's essence with the Jewish people when they left Egypt. Having acquired Joseph's essence, Moses was later able to give the Jewish people the Torah.

[Composed in Ottoman Palestine (c.1611 - c.1631 CE). Written by Rabbi Isaiah HaLevi Horovitz (c.1555-1630), who is known by the acronym of the title of the book (Shelah)]

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