The Daily Strengthening of our teacher, the holy Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days) – Every True Tzaddik Faced False Accusations

How could Yosef HaTzaddik (Joseph the Righteous) ask the Chief Butler to mention him to Pharaoh and not rely on Hashem (God)? Sunday, 27th of Iyar, 5785

There is no (true) tzaddik (righteous person) who did not face false accusations (libels). There were false accusations against Rabbi Nosson of Breslov, and there were false accusations against all the (true) tzaddikim. A tzaddik who did not face false accusations is not...

Yosef HaTzaddik, after being in Potiphar's house for a year and another 10 years in prison, then asked the Chief Butler, "But think on me... and make mention of me" (Genesis 40:14). For this, he received an additional two years in prison.

What is he asking? He sees such Divine Providence (Hashgacha Pratis) with the Chief Butler. The Chief Butler comes and says to him, "What do you request? You will receive everything from me."

Yosef said, "Just mention me to the king" (and make mention of me to Pharaoh), that is all. Then it is written, "Yet the Chief Butler did not remember Yosef, but forgot him." What is the meaning of, "Yet the Chief Butler did not remember... but forgot him"?

The Chief Butler actually wanted to remember; every day he made knots in his handkerchief in order to remember to tell Pharaoh. When he would take out the handkerchief to wipe his eyes or his nose, he would see the knot and remember to tell Pharaoh about Yosef. But then [it is taught that an angel] untied the knots.

"Yet the Chief Butler did not remember Yosef, but forgot him." The Satmar Rebbe explains differently in his commentary on Psalm 27. He explains that Yosef actually prayed that the Butler would forget him—he prayed, "I do not want help from the Chief Butler, I want help directly from Hashem (God) Yisbarach (may He be blessed)."

I don't want any help from the Chief Butler, I am not praying that he saves me, I want him to forget me—what is the meaning of, "and he forgot him"? That Yosef prayed that the Chief Butler would forget him!