Tikun for the Sale of Yosef in the Musaf of Shabbat, Parashat Vayeshev

Tikun for the Sale of Yosef in the Musaf of Shabbat, Parashat Vayeshev

The beginning of Chanukah, when we dispel the darkness and focus on the light, falls during Parashat “Vayeshev.” In the darkness, we see poorly and do not perceive the angels standing behind the events taking place around us. We need light in order to see the angels and G-d’s hand in everything that happens. Sometimes angels appear on our path in human form; we simply cannot see them in the darkness… Our Forefathers were always helped by angels, and they help us as well—we simply need to “turn on the light.” Chanukah is the time to turn on this light. Gaon Ben Tzion Mutzafi conveys from Rabbeinu Chida that it is beneficial to recite, during the Musaf of Shabbat, Parashat Vayeshev, the pasuk (39:2) associated with Yosef. This is a segula for success in everything—in parnasah and in all one’s endeavors. Why specifically in Musaf? Gaon Rabbi Ben Tzion Mutzafi explains that each of the Forefathers established a particular prayer: Avraham Avinu established the Shacharit prayer, Yitzchak Avinu established Mincha, Yaakov Avinu established Maariv, Yosef HaTzadik established the Musaf prayer, David HaMelech established Rosh Chodesh, Moshe Rabbeinu established Shabbat. When he left Egypt, he took Yosef HaTzadik’s remains with him, thereby rectifying Shabbat. Therefore, according to the Ari HaKadosh, on Shabbat we recite “Mizmor Shir Le-yom Ha-Shabbat”—the initial letters of “Le-Moshe.” Thus, Parashat Vayeshev is connected with Yosef, and the Musaf prayer is connected with Yosef; Musaf itself is a Tikun. Therefore, during the Musaf of Shabbat in the weekly portion of Vayeshev, it is beneficial to perform a Tikun (rectification) for the sale of Yosef HaTzadik by his brothers.   Tikun for the Sale of Yosef Through the “rectification” of the sale of Yosef HaTzadik—when reciting Tefilat Musaf—the exile is shortened, because the exile has lasted so long on account of the sale of Yosef by his brothers. Before the recitation, say: “Ribono Shel Olam, through this recitation I am rectifying Mechirat (the sale of) Yosef HaTzadik, and this is the Tikun of Mechirat Yosef HaTzadik.” Thus, recite the pasuk three times yashar (in the forward order) and three times afukh (in reverse order): ויהי יהוה את יוסף ויהי איש מצליח ויהי בבית אדניו המצרי - “Va-yehi Ado-nai et Yosef, va-yehi ish matzliach, va-yehi ve-beit Adonav ha-Mitzri”—three times - “ha-Mitzri Adonav ve-beit, va-yehi matzliach ish, va-yehi Yosef et Ha-Shem, va-yehi”—three times.   (Based on a lesson by Gaon Ben Tzion Mutzafi (shlita)