Parashat Vayigash introduces us to the Egyptian city of Raamses: "Yosef settled his father and his brothers, giving them holdings in the choicest part of the land of Egypt, in the region of Raamses, as Pharaoh had commanded" (47:12). As some commentators have noted, however, a verse towards the beginning of Sefer Shemot implies that this area was built only later, after Benei Yisrael's bondage began: "They set taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built garrison cities for Pharaoh - Pitom and Raamses" (Shemot 1:11).

Yaakov hears that Yosef is still alive and exclaims, "I will go and see him before I die!" (45:28). The next verse tells that indeed, Yaakov took his family and all his belongings and embarked on his trip. Instead of proceeding directly to Egypt, however, "he came to Be'er Sheva, where he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Yitzchak." Why did he stop in Be'er Sheva to bring sacrifices rather than traveling straight to Egypt?

In Parashat Vayigash, Yosef reveals himself to his brothers and bids them to bring their father and families to Egypt where he will support them through the devastating famine. When ordering their return to Canaan to bring Yaakov, Yosef says, "Quickly, go up to my father… " (45:9). Rashi here cites the famous comment of Chazal that "Eretz Yisrael is higher then all other lands."

When Yosef introduces his father, Yaakov, to Pharaoh, the Egyptian king inquires as to the saintly patriarch's age. Yaakov answers with not only a number, but also a description: "Few and hard have been the years of my life, nor do they come up to the life spans of my fathers during their sojourns" (47:9). The Midrash criticizes Yaakov's complaint, commenting that thirty-three years were taken from his life as punishment for the thirty-three words of self lamentation he spoke to Pharaoh.

Parashat Vayigash opens with Yehuda's impassioned plea to Yosef that he allow Binyamin, who was charged with stealing the viceroy's silver goblet, to return to Canaan. The parasha opens, "Yehuda approached him and said, 'Please, my lord, let your servant speak something in the ears of my lord, and do not be angry with your servant… '"

איך מגיעים לדבקות בה'? על ידי הגעה אל השלמות הכללית. מזמור ט"ו סולל לכך את הדרך: שלמות עצמית בגוף, נפש, דעת ודיבור; שלמות חברתית; ושלמות בעבודת ה'.

On the two occasions when Yaakov leaves Eretz Yisrael for the Diaspora God speaks to him specifically in the dark of night, providing him reassurance regarding his uncertain future.

After revealing his identity to his brothers, Yosef presents them with gifts: "To each of them he gave a change of clothing; but to Binyamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothing" (45:22). In light of Yosef's family history, his conduct in this regard seems startling. He suffered so bitterly as a result of the preferential treatment afforded him by his father. Is he now ready to make the same mistake? Does he not fear the repercussions of adding to Binyamin's gift?

מקומו של ה' איננו מוגבל רק לשמים, ולכן השגחתו היא על הנעשה בכל מקום בעולם. לכן גם בזמן גלות או נדודים ניתן לסמוך על השגחת ה'.

במזמור ד' נע המשורר בין בקשתו האישית מה' שיענה לתפילתו לבין דרישתו מהציבור לסור מרע ולעשות טוב.