Peace of Mind

carucciBy Benedetto Carucci Viterbi*

When Joseph meets his father after many years apart, while Yaakov had believed him dead, he hugs him, kisses him, and weeps. Yaakov does not: according to the Midrash, he was intent on reciting the Shemah. Rav Wolbe sees in this behavior the achievement of menuchat hanefesh, peace of mind, the capacity of not being upset by what happens around us, even before extremely emotional events.

*Benedetto Carucci Viterbi is a rabbi. The article was translated by Rossella Tercatin.