Parshas Vayeishev

(The Segulah of Learning Zera Shimshon)

The Midrash in Bereishis Rabbi (84:17) tells us that the aveiros of the shevatim will be remembered for all eternity and they provide hope for the world.

The Zera Shimshon explains that despite it sounding like the aveiros being remembered for all eternity being a negative thing, it is really positive. He says that the fact that Yosef was sold into slavery, into galus, it accustomed the Shechinah to this concept of galus.

He quotes the Shach who says, "If not for Mechiras Yosef, if not for the fact that the Shechinah was already familiar with galus, the Shechinah would have poured out Her wrath on Bnei Yisroel themselves during the time of Churban Bayis Rishon and Sheini, and Bnei Yisroel would have been destroyed." Instead Hashem sent Bnei Yisroel into galus.

The Shechinah was accustomed to galus, because the Shechinah went into exile with Yosef HaTzadik when his brothers sold him. We learn this from the words of "v'Yosef hurad Mitzraymah." The gematria of "Mitzraymah" equals that of "Shechinah."

This set a precedent, and the sins of the shevatim were remembered and will be remembered for eternity. It provides hope, because in the same way that the Shechinah will return from galus, Klal Yisroel will as well.

We should merit the geulah speedily in our days.

Source: Zera Shimshon Parshas Vayeishev