TT · Parashas Mikeitz · Passuk 42:28
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֶל־אֶחָיו֙ הוּשַׁ֣ב כַּסְפִּ֔י וְגַ֖ם הִנֵּ֣ה בְאַמְתַּחְתִּ֑י וַיֵּצֵ֣א לִבָּ֗ם וַיֶּֽחֶרְד֞וּ אִ֤ישׁ אֶל־אָחִיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מַה־זֹּ֛את עָשָׂ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים לָֽנוּ׃
And he said to his brothers, “My money has been returned! It is here in my bag!” Their hearts sank; and, trembling, they turned to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?”
Torah Temimah points to Yerushalmi Berachos 2:8.
ויצא לבם. כד דמיך רבי סימון בר זביד, אמר רבי לוי, ומה אחי יוסף שמציאה מצאו יצא לבם, אנו שאבדנו את רבי סימון על אחת כמה וכמה.
English of Core Text: “And their heart failed them…” When R’ Simon bar Zevid died, R’ Levi said: If the brothers of Yosef, who found a find [the money returned in their sacks], had their heart fail them, how much more so we who have lost R’ Simon!
On the daf / in context: The Yerushalmi uses the brothers’ reaction to the returned money as a qal va-chomer for the grief felt at the loss of a great teacher.
Type of Learning: Derash on the verse (Yerushalmi) — qal va-chomer / non-formal.
What Is Learned: Even the discovery of unexpected money caused the brothers’ hearts to fail because of the fear of accusation; the loss of a Torah sage is therefore a far greater cause for heart-failure and mourning.