January 11, 2025; 11 Tevet, 5785 Sponsored anonymously for the Refuah Shleimah of Yair Nissan Ben Sara

As Yaakov Avinu nears the end of his life, he makes a request of his son, Yosef: "Place your hand under my thigh and deal with me with kindness and truth; please do not bury me in Egypt." (Bereishis 47:29)
The Midrash Tanchuma (3:1) raises an intriguing question about this verse. Why does Yaakov specify to be dealt with both "kindness and truth"? Is there such a thing as “kindness and falsehood”? The Midrash explains further by offering a folk saying that reflects a false kindness: "When your friend's son dies, share his sorrow (be kind to him); but when your friend dies, cast off your sorrow."...