Achdus Begins at Home: A Modest Proposal 

During the first weeks, as Miriam teetered on the brink, an asifah was organized as a zechus for her refuah. For many people, it was life-changing. It was Chanukah time, and Rabbi Zecharia Wallerstein z”l spoke about the way Yosef Hatzaddik overcame his nature, his teva, when his brothers appeared in Egypt.

Yosef had every reason to be furious with his brothers and avenge himself on them. He been ostracized and then became the victim of a plot to kill him, which changed into a plan to sell him into slavery. Instead, Yosef put all the hatred behind him. He kissed his brothers and told them it was Hashem who caused them to sell him south so that the family could find refuge from the famine.

Yosef broke his teva to forgive his brothers, Rabbi Wallerstein said. If we want Hashem to work miracles on our behalf, we ourselves must prove ourselves capable of overcoming our teva as well. He told his audience: In the same way Yosef reconciled with his brothers, all of you should take it upon yourselves to make shalom with anyone you’re in conflict with. Break your teva, put aside your ego and your embarrassment, and repair your relationships if you want this sick young woman to get up from her bed and dance.

Rabbi Wallerstein spoke so passionately and eloquently that many people walked out of that room and immediately ran to fix broken relationships. We heard story after story of estranged business partners who made up, a sister who called a brother she hadn’t spoken to in ten years, neighbors who finally patched up their differences.