Towers of Silver

 

"He gave them all, to each one changes of clothes, and to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothes" (45:22).

Throughout history, once the Jews begin to adapt their appearance to match the non-Jews around them, followed by the adoption of the non-Jewish language and manner of speech, followed in turn by the exchange of Jewish names for non-Jewish names, then exile and or its intensification ensues. The changes of clothes described in this verse symbolize this reality. On the other hand, Yosef also gave gifts of redemption. He handed Binyamin 300 silver pieces, for the beis hamikdash was destined to be built three times in his territory. Each beis hamikdash corresponds to another hundred silver pieces, for it is described as tiras kesef, "a silver turret" (Shir HaShirim 8:9), and it rose 100 cubits high. The first beis hamikdash did not have this height physically, but it certainly rose to this stature spiritually, as explained in numerous sources. To hasten the final redemption and to speedily merit the third "silver turret" that will rise to a height of 100 cubits, we must make an effort to look Jewish, speak the Jewish way, and to proudly wear our Jewish names.

Chasam Sofer