As Heard from Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L

“And they wept.” (33:4)

Esav and Jacob wept when they met each other. Jacob wept when he encountered Rachel (29:11), and Joseph wept when his brothers came (43:30, 45:2, and 45:15). Esav and Jacob kissed each other, Jacob kissed Rachel, and Joseph embraced his brothers and kissed them. He fell upon the neck of Benjamin, and Benjamin wept on Joseph’s neck. And Jacob “kissed and embraced” his grandchildren (48:10).

We see that this family expressed their love of kin in highly emotional manner, and we learn therefrom that it is an excellence of the soul to love one’s kin with powerful emotion. By loving one’s kin, one comes to love his kin’s kin, and eventually he attains the feeling that the entire house of Israel are his kin.

The perfection of character toward one person tends to spread, and is subsequently broadened to include others. The fact that even Esav ran toward his brother Jacob “and embraced him and fell upon his neck and kissed him, and they wept” demonstrates how deeply ingrained the fervent love of kin was in this unique family.

We see from the conduct of this family that they expressed their affection by kissing and embracing. Instead of being cold philosophers (”Stoics”) that are ashamed of emotions, our Fathers expressed their love by acts of demonstrative affection. And they thus served Hashem by encouraging the feelings of kindliness and love which cause Perfection of the soul.

Quoted from “The Beginning” By Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L

Shabbat Shalom

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