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How Faith In Others Helps Us Overcome Life's Challenge
In parshat Vayeshev, Yosef faces a monumental challenge—perhaps the greatest test of his life. His master's wife, Eishes Potifar, relentlessly attempts to seduce him, luring him into sin. Yosef is just seventeen years old, isolated in a foreign land, far from his family, and surrounded by no one who would ever know if he gave in. He is the only Jew in Egypt, with no witnesses to his actions. The pressure on him is immense. Yet, despite the overwhelming temptation, the Torah tells us, "vayimaen Yosef"—Yosef refused. He stood strong and resisted the temptation. But how did he do it? How did Yosef find the strength to reject such a powerful test of his moral integrity?
I once heard a profound explanation from my father, Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlita, who shared an insight from the Nesivos Shalom, Rav Sholom Noach Berezovsky. When the Torah says "vayimaen," it’s not the first time that word is used. Earlier in the parshah (Bereishit 37:35), the Torah says that Yaakov Avinu, when he believed Yosef was dead, also refused to be comforted. The Torah describes, "Vayimaen l’hisnachem"—Yaakov refused to accept the idea that his son was gone. Yaakov held onto hope and faith in Yosef, refusing to let go of the belief that he would return.
The Nesivos Shalom teaches a powerful lesson: Yosef’s refusal to give in to temptation was rooted in the vayimaen of his father. Yosef drew strength from Yaakov’s unwavering faith in him. Yaakov’s refusal to let go gave Yosef the fortitude to resist Potifar's wife. When Yaakov refused to surrender hope, Yosef found the strength to refuse sin. Yosef’s moral clarity was not just a result of his own inner strength, but also of the belief his father had in him.
This lesson is incredibly powerful: if someone believes in us, it gives us the strength to face any challenge. A person with faith in us can help us overcome even the most difficult tests. The key question is: who has faith in us? We must all have someone to turn to—whether a parent, teacher, mentor, or friend—who believes in us. And, just as importantly, we need to believe in others. When we show others that we care, that we have faith in them, we empower them to rise above their struggles.
Let me share a story that illustrates this point:
There was once a mother whose son had become rebellious and disrespectful. Frustrated, she called her sister and pleaded, “Please, take him in as your foster child.” The sister, who already had six children of her own, was hesitant, but she agreed. However, the boy’s behavior didn’t improve. He was disruptive, and every day felt like a battle. One day, the boy’s principal called the aunt, saying that he could no longer tolerate the boy’s behavior and was planning to expel him. Initially, the aunt considered agreeing with the principal. It would give her an easy excuse to relieve herself of the responsibility.
But something inside her changed. She decided to stand by the boy. She told the principal, “If you expel my nephew, my husband will quit his job. You’ll have to find a new teacher.” The principal was stunned. The aunt’s resolve made him reconsider, and he gave the boy another chance.
That evening, the boy came home and looked his aunt in the eye. “Did you really risk your husband’s job to save me?” he asked. With tears in her eyes, the aunt replied, “Yes, I did. I believed in you.” That moment of unconditional faith changed the boy. He transformed his behavior and turned his life around. Why? Because someone believed in him, someone refused to give up on him. When someone has faith in us, we can face any challenge and overcome any obstacle.
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By Aryeh Fingerer
Parshat Vayeshev: The Power Of Belief
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