One of the two most dramatic words ever recited were, “Ani Yosef – I am Yosef!” These words were recited when Yosef revealed his sole identity to his brothers. These two words shocked and shook Yosef’s brothers to the core of their beings. Their entire worldview was suddenly turned inside out. The brothers’ accusation, fear, vendetta, and punitive action against Yosef were all wrong.
While for years they perceived Yosef as a vain dreamer seeking to sabotage Hashem’s plans, they now realized that Yosef was a Tzaddik (righteous) and Navi (prophet), chosen by Hashem to safeguard their family during the famine.
He said “Ani Yosef” – “I am not the ruthless, merciless tyrant. Everything that you thought was wrong.” “Ani Yosef” – “You totally misjudged me. I am not who you thought I am.” “Ani Yosef” – “I am not a stranger. I am your brother.”
I heard from Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlita that Rav Avrohom Pam zt”l taught that there would come a time in our lives when we will all experience a riveting “Ani Yosef” moment. The people that we belittled or treated with disdain; those whom we treated with scorn or disrespect; those whom we alienated and didn’t accord proper value.
They will say, “Ani Yosef” – “You were wrong!” We will have the shock of our lives when we see how much we misjudged, misconstrued, and mistook right from wrong. As the Gemara says, “It’s a topsy-turvy world. The high people are low, while the low people are high.”
Hundreds of thousands of Jews live amongst us with little or no connection to Yiddishkeit (Judaism). These are our brothers whom we often ignore or who we may pretend don’t exist. On our day of reckoning, we will be shocked to hear souls yelling at us “Ani Yosef – I am your brother! Why did you ignore me? Why did you not take an interest in mine and my children’s eternity?” It may have been your doctor or even your neighbor. These people who you constantly encounter will come to you in heaven!
Many years ago, my grandfather, Rav Daniel Fingerer shlita was teaching for an institution, and he would always see an older man sweeping the floors. My grandfather assumed that that man must be the custodian. The man was very meticulous about his job. One day, my grandfather came in and the man wasn’t there. The second day comes by and then the third day. Now my grandfather starts getting concerned. The custodian was not the type of guy that takes a vacation. He is devoted to his job. My grandfather went to the doorman and asked where the custodian was. The doorman replied that he was in hospital. He had a heart attack.
My grandfather got the custodian’s room number, and he went to visit him. After all, how many people care about a custodian? Right before my grandfather goes into the room, he sees something strange. Somebody was visiting the custodian right beforehand and who was it? It was none other than the president of the entire institution! My grandfather was like that’s incredible! The president is visiting the simple custodian! That’s pretty impressive!
When the president left the room, my grandfather went in and he said to the custodian, “It’s amazing that the president came to visit you!” The custodian turns to my grandfather and says, “Don’t you think a son should visit his father?” So, my grandfather says, “You mean to tell me you’re the president’s father?” and he says, “Yes, that’s right. I bought my son the building and I want to take care of it and make sure that it shines and sparkles. I’m not the custodian, I’m the president’s father.”
This was a real “Ani Yosef” moment. Everything was upside down for my grandfather. The man who he thought was the custodian, who probably everybody just walked by, was the father of the president! The man who bought the entire institution – the man who paid all the bills! You may look at somebody and think he’s just a custodian or a bus driver. Little do you know that that person is not who you think they are! Reach out to them!
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