In Parshas Vayechi, {49, 22} we find a very strange compliment to Yosef, as his father was blessing him. Yaakov Avinu felt it important to mention how unbelievably handsome Yosef HaTzaddik was! As Maran zat"zl asked, "It seems as if Yaakov was praising Yosef with an 'Americanashe zach' ; that the Egyptian girls were all clamoring upon the walls to get a glimpse of Yosef ??!!"
The Rosh Yeshivah zatz"l answered that indeed Yaakov Avinu was expressing an extraordinary trait in Yosef. It should be noted that the following psukim continue to speak about the hatred of the brothers towards Yosef and then Yosef's strength of spirit. The flow of the P'sukim suggests an understanding of human nature which can be very crucial in chinuch.
Every person needs to have an enviroment where he feels valued and appreciated. When a person is scoffed at or looked down upon or just ignored in one enviroment, he will naturally be drawn and attracted to other sources to provide his need for approval. When Yosef HaTzaddik was so 'welcomed' and idolized by the society of Egypt after being ridiculed by his brothers as the 'dreamer', he was presented with a tremendous challenge of huge proportions. It is almost humanly impossible to withstand the powerful draw of being a social icon after years of neglect. This exemplified Yosef's nerves of steel, to stand strong and faithful while being starved of such a basic need of human nature.
Few can withstand this challenge. Let us not allow our children, friends, or colleagues to be tempted by approval and appreciation from inappropriate sources. Let us provide them with their emotional needs in a healthy, warm Torah enviroment so they should never be left thirsty for unhealthy nourishment elsewhere!
