Parashas VaYigash - Words vs Words & Action

In this week's Parasha, Yosef unveiled his true identity to his brothers. From the moment he said, “I am Yosef, is my father still alive?” his following words were words of comfort:

• “Please come close to me.”
• “I am Yosef, your brother (indicating he has no ill will towards them.)”
• “Now do not worry.”
• “Do not be angry with yourselves.”
• “It was Hashem's plan that I be here. It's not your fault!”
• “Hashem sent me here to ensure your survival during the famine.”
• “Know it was not you who sent me here, it was Hashem.”
• “Bring your family down to Egypt so that I can provide for everyone!”
• He then fell upon his brother, Binyamin's neck and wept.
• He kissed all his brothers and wept upon their necks.
• After that, his brothers spoke with him.

I understand why Yosef wept upon Binyamin's neck – he had never seen him! However, regarding the other brothers, he had seen them recently on a couple occasions. Why did he weep on their necks too?

The reason Yosef told them to “Please come close to me,” was because he saw his brothers backing up. They were shocked and scared. When Yosef spoke nicely, calmly, and assured his forgiveness towards them (for trying to kill him or for selling him,) the Torah mentions nothing about the brothers feeling comforted or safe. As soon as Yosef did the action of “kissing them” and “weeping on them,” the Torah mentioned the brothers “spoke with him,” showing that they were comforted.

In this week's parasha, we see how important it is to not only comfort someone verbally but to also assure them physically. It can be in a form of (in Yosef's case) weeping or kissing them, giving gifts, etc.

Just to leave you off with a question I have: Rashi [45:4 and 45:12] says that Yosef showed his brothers that he was circumcised to show them he was their brother. How is that proof? Showing them he was circumcised only proves either he was Jewish or he was a Yishmaelite over the age of 13 (since they circumcised at age 13.) So what proof was there in showing he was their brother by showing them his bris?

Have a wonderful Shabbos,

Nisso