ויקח אדני יוסף אותו ויתנהו אל בית הסהר… ויהי שם בבית הסוהר (וישב לז: כ)

Yosef’s master put him in prison…and he was there, in prison

The commentaries explain that the pasuk tells us that Yosef was in prison, and he believed that his imprisonment was Hashem’s will, so he accepted the decree with joy.  Yosef was “there, in prison,” willingly, with all his heart and soul.

The Sfas Emes writes, “Yosef was extremely wise and wealthy.  He could have found a way out of jail if he wanted.  But he believed it was Hashem’s will, so he stayed in the place he found himself to be.”

Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk zt’’l and Reb Zusha of Anipoli zt’’l were imprisoned.  There was a bucket in the cell to be used as a toilet.  Reb Elimelech was very upset since they wouldn’t be able to study Torah or to daven.

His brother Reb Zusha explained that this was actually a reason to rejoice because by refraining from studying Torah and tefillah, they would be keeping the Halachah that prohibits studying where there’s a foul odor.

Reb Elimelech realized that Reb Zusha was right, and they began singing and dancing around the bucket.

The prison warden rushed to see why there was singing, and when he saw the two brothers dancing around the bucket, he said, “Oh, this is what you are happy about?” he promptly grabbed the pail and removed it from the room.

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