Among The Poor
Rabbi Akiva once went to the market to sell a precious pearl. Along the way he met a poor unfortunate person dressed in rags who always sat in the beis knessess (house of assembly) amongst the poor
How surprised Rabbi Akiva was when that poor man approached him, gazed at the precious stone and said, “I want to buy that!” When he noticed Rabbi Akiva’s astonished look, he added, “Come along home with me. I will pay for the stone when we get there.”
Rabbi Akiva was certain that the man was playing a joke on him. How could a such a ragged person have the means to buy such a precious gem?
Nevertheless, he followed him. His house was a huge mansion. When they approached it, the servants came out to greet their master. They carried out a golden chair, placed him upon it and began washing his feet.
The ragged man said to them, “Give Rabbi Akiva the price he is asking for his gem, then set a table for us.”
Rabbi Akiva now understood that the man was not poor at all. On the contrary, he was very wealthy indeed! After they had eaten, Rabbi Akiva turned to his host and asked, “Why do you degrade yourself, going around in rags and sitting among the poor?”
The man replied, “Rabbi Akiva, it says: ‘Man is compared to a vapor; his days are like a passing shadow.’ I am well aware that money has no lasting power and cannot accompany a person after death. Thus I realize that keeping company with the downtrodden and the miserable is good for me. It prevents me from boasting about the wealth which HaShem has granted me. That way I feel akin to everyone, equal to all men. For do we all not have one Father; did not one G’d create each of us? Is it not better for me to sit among the poor than to be boastful, sin, and end up in gehennom (purgatory)? HaShem despises the haughty.”
Rabbi Akiva’s eyes lit up at this explanation and he left the magnificent home after praising and blessing his host. *
In the Torah portion Vayigash (Genesis 44:18-47:27), Joseph is viceroy of Egypt under Pharaoh. Joseph and Judah have just had their “words” about Benjamin and Joseph knows know it is time to reveal himself to his brothers. He sends all the Egyptians out of the room, putting himself at the mercy of his brothers. No way was Joseph going to embarrass his brothers by revealing in front of the Egyptians that these men had been the ones who had sold him into slavery in the first place.
And now for the big “reveal”! “Ani Yosaif“, says Joseph. He speaks to his brothers in their language of Hebrew saying, “I Am Joseph“. Up until this point Joseph has used an interpreter to speak to his brothers. Now he will highlight his heart of love.
‘“Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” And his brothers were unable to answer him because they were terrified at his presence.’ Genesis 45:3
Talk about a foreshadow of the Messianic revelation that is to come. When everything was at it’s worst for the sons of Jacob. There was famine, Benjamin was being held because of theft, AND the thought of having to tell their father that now he had lost another son (could it get any more grievous for them?). Now Joseph reveals himself!
Salvation will come through the one and only Messiah. “Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him, even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth shall mourn because of Him. Yes, amen!” Revelation 1:7. The Messiah will reveal Himself to each one of us, we too will be like Joseph’s brothers, terrified and deeply ashamed of ourselves in His Presence. “The path of a fool is right in his own eyes” -Proverbs 12:15. A person forever thinks that no matter how he acts, he is right, since the evil inclination causes him to rationalize his actions. On the day of judgement, the Holy One will prove to each person the severity of his offense.
Joseph’s life as the “Suffering Servant” is a beautiful image of the Messiah Yeshua. Just as Joseph, being sold into slavery, falsely accused, imprisoned, rose to greatness, to be Salvation to the World, and most important to Israel (the house of Jacob). “and in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer shall come out of Zion. He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. And this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” -Romans 11:27-27
The “poor” ragged man in our story lived his life as an equal to all men, determined to avoid a haughty lifestyle and never boasting about his riches. Even in Joseph’s office as viceroy, he remained the same humble, lowly person whom his brothers sold down to Egypt. So we should be. Determined to be an equally yoked bride for our soon coming Messiah!
Happy Day! Shalom!
Hallelujah Girl
*Among the Poor, Story from Tales of Tzaddikim (Bereishis), A wonderful collection of stories from our Sages and the great Torah leaders. Artscroll 1987