Parasha Vaigash
“Israel traveled with all he had; he arrived at Beer Sheva and offered offerings to the God of Yitzchak, his father” (Bereishit 46:1)
Rashi explains about the phrase “to the G-d of Yitzchak, his father” that a person should honor his father more than his grandfather, therefore Yitzchak was mentioned and not Abraham.
When Yaakov Avinu was informed that Joseph was alive in Egypt, he was overjoyed beyond measure. This was primarily due to the fact that Joseph had governed himself and had not forgotten the Torah he had learned.
Yaakov did not rejoice in the political and physical power that Yosef had achieved, but in the spiritual power he maintained, for as our Sages say: who is powerful? "He who masters his evil inclination." The Torah is called "honor" (Avot 6:3).
When Joseph said to his brothers: “Tell my father all my 'honor'” (Bereshit 45:13), He wasn't referring to personal honor, but rather to the honor of the Torah. Furthermore, he didn't cause a defect in the sacred brit, which is also called "honor."
Yaakov Avinu was very happy at the news, and as a sign of gratitude, he offered thanksgiving offerings.
The verse highlights that “Yaakov offered offerings to the God of his father, Yitzchak”, to which Rashi explains that from this we learn that more honor is due to the father than to the grandfather. To this we may ask: why did the Torah see fit to teach us this halacha precisely here and not elsewhere?
There is certainly much to delve into in Rashi's words.
We can answer that when Yitzhak heard that Yosef had been torn to pieces by a wild beast, he wept and shared in the suffering of his son Yaakov. And as a token of gratitude to Yitzhak for his solidarity with his son Yaakov regarding what happened to Yosef, his tears undoubtedly made an impression in heaven, which led to Yosef's salvation. So when Yaakov was notified that his son was alive and that he was viceroy of Egypt, he hurried to offer offerings. “to the G-d of his father, Yitzhak”; and with this action he reciprocated his father's solidarity. Now we can understand why the Torah taught us this precisely here.
From this we learn how powerful the force of gratitude is, that the person who thanks his companion will end up thanking Heaven, since HaKadosh Baruch Hu does good to every person day and night, as we see in this topic of our parasha, that Yaakov thanked HaKadosh Baruch Hu and his father, and raised an offering remembering the merit of his father Yitzchak, who consoled him upon hearing about the tragedy of Yosef, his son.
Dedicated to the health of all the sick in Am Israel and throughout the world, and to the Hatzlacha and Beracha of Am Israel, may the Creator free us from all present difficulties.
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