At the beginning of Parshas Vayigash, Yosef dramatically ended the saga with his brothers by revealing his identity to them: “I am Yosef” (Bereishis 45:3). His brothers “were unable to respond” to this and were silenced. Translators and commentators differ in explaining the cause for their silence, whether rooted in fear, surprise, or simply disconcertment. Rashi suggested that it was shame that silenced them, but does not specify the root of their shame, whether it was their guilt for the sale of Yosef or their doubting the meaning of his dreams. I believe that the simplest explanation for their shame is their inability to recognize the identity of their brother, Yosef, through this entire ordeal. While Rashi (Bereishis 42:8) cited the Midrash that explains that Yosef had grown a beard since they last saw him, this does not seem to sufficiently explain or justify their inability to recognize their own brother.

Yosef was simply never seen by his brothers. They never truly paid attention to........

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