Halacha Words-Parshas Vayeshev

Yosef snitched to his father about what his brothers were doing wrong. Rashi says that he was punished for this. The Chafetz Chaim explains that that there is a Mitzva of Tochacha, giving Mussur that Yosef was supposed to give the brothers before telling Lashon Hara to their father. Only if they ignore his Musur should he tell their father so that he would improve them. Even telling a father is considered Lashon Hara when it is not necessary.

~ One Hundred Words on the Parsha - Vayeshev

As part of the Slichios davening, we ask Hashem to have pity on Yosef who was sold but not for money. The question is that Yosef was actually sold for money? Sometimes when a person sells something, it’s not for the money. The money is besides the point. There are things that people do for alternative reason, not the obvious reason. We must then delve deeper in order to understand the motivation “What made the person tick”

Whether it’s a tool of Teshuva or otherwise we should know the true motive for what is being done.

~ One Hundred Words on the Parsha – Vayeishev

ביקש יעקב לישב בשלוה קפץ עליו רוגזו של יוסף (רש"י)

יעקב wanted to live in tranquility which caused the צרה of יוסף to happen to him. (רש"י).

R’ Moshe Feinstein teaches that tranquility for a צדיק is normally good, but in this case was a problem because the matter effected was חנוך. When it comes to חנוך, there can be no rest. יעקב thought that his children were צדיקים and therefore didn’t need vigilant חנוך, but he was mistaken. The lesson for us is to not “rest on our laurels” with our children’s חנוך, even when they are doing well. In my opinion, the story of דינה can be similarly explained.