"אני יוסף, העוד אבי חי?" (בראשית מה, ג)

In Parashat Vayigash, we reach a dramatic climax when Yosef reveals himself to his brothers. After years of separation, humiliation, and trials, Yosef stands before them and asks one piercing question: "אני יוסף, העוד אבי חי?"

The sages ponder this question: Yehudah had just spoken at length about their father Yaakov's pain, describing his deep connection to Binyomin and his fragile state. Why, then, does Yosef ask, "העוד אבי חי"? Surely he knows that Yaakov is alive!

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch explains that Yosef’s question isn’t merely technical. He is asking something deeper: "Is my father truly alive in spirit, in awareness, in joy and hope, or is he merely surviving in anguish?"

Yosef reminds us that true life isn’t just physical existence—it is about the quality of our spirit, our connection to our soul, and living with joy and faith. He wanted to understand whether Yaakov had managed to preserve his inner strength despite all the pain and suffering he had endured.

A Message for Our Lives:

We all face moments of challenges, difficulties, and trials. The question we must ask ourselves is: "Am I truly alive? Can I maintain joy, faith, and hope even during hard times?"

Yosef, who overcame immense trials, shows us that it is possible to rise above hardships—not by denying them but by connecting to the belief that everything God does is for the best.