For those of us fortunate to have siblings, we can attest to the constant sibling rivalry and camaraderie that goes on behind closed doors. Generally as we grow up, those sibling relationships become the one stronghold we can always go back to…the one group of people who are always there, always holding us up. In this week’s parsha, Yosef and his brothers step on stage with the ultimate sibling rivalry, a discontent amongst the brothers that leads to the climactic betrayal of the brothers to Yosef. 

One thing we don’t see in this week’s parsha is how that is resolved. We don’t see the makeup, we don’t see the forgiveness. But for those of us who have gone through the yearly cycle of reading the Torah portion, we know that it is there…that it is coming.
In life too, there are rivalries that we face, both within our families and beyond. Sometimes we can foresee the happy ending, sometimes not. Azi’s petirah was an ending none of us could foresee…and yet somehow makes perfect sense. The relationships we formed-both during his short tenure and after-those are the lasting hallmarks of living fully. 

Use the conflict that is every day to form strong, lasting and meaningful relationships…relationships that withstand the test of time and survive beyond what the eye can see.