IN THIS WEEK'S PARSHA - VAYIGASH, AFTER YOSEF REVEALED HIMSELF TO HIS BROTHERS, THEY WERE SO ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES THAT THEY TRIED TO HIDE FROM HIM.
YOSEF HATZADIK PULLED THEM CLOSE AND TELLS HIS BROTHERS:
"VA'ATTA AL TIE'ATZVU - AND NOW, DON'T BE SAD".
SAYS THE HELIGER RADOMSKER REBBE ZT"L IN HIS CLASSIC SEFER TIFERS SHLOMO(IF YOU DON'T OWN ONE, BUY IT):
VA'ATTA IS A LASHON OF TESHUVA
VI'ATTA, WHEN YOU DO TESHUVAH, DO IT BESIMCHA!!!!
AL TEI-ATZVU, DON'T GET DEPRESSED!!!
WHEN WE DO TESHUVAH, WE ARE TURNING OUR BACK ON OUR OLD WAYS.
THE YETZER HARA FREAKS OUT.
WHAT'S THE LAST AMMO IN HIS ARSENAL??
THAT'S RIGHT, THE "D" BOMB.
"DEPRESSION".
HE HITS YOU BETWEEN THE EYES AND SAYS:
"UCHHH!! YOU VERMIN! YOU SINNED! HASHEM WILL NEVER, EVER ACCEPT YOUR TESHUVAH!!"
HE CAN TURN YOUR VERY OWN TESHUVAH JOURNEY INTO A DIVING BOARD RIGHT BACK INTO THE SEWER.
SO INSTEAD, WHEN WE DO TESHUVAH, WE SING, WE DANCE, WE SMILE, WE DRINK L'CHAIM!
YES, WE ARE HAPPY.
BUT WHAT OF THE OLD STUFF; THE BAGGAGE, THE SEWAGE, THE TAINTED MIND, ETC??
GOOD QUESTION, BUT HERE IS THE SECRET:
VI'ATTA!!!
THE "V" BOMB!!!
VI'ATTA = NOW.
WHAT WAS, WAS.
FROM HERE AND ON!!
KEEP ON TRUCKIN!!!