Vayigash Genesis 44:18-47:27
We are told that Judah approaches Joseph to plead for the release of Binyamin, his younger brother. The use of the word approach is instructive. Again we see an active stepping into destiny and decision making that changes history. He offers himself as a slave instead of Binyamin.
Pharaoh dreams of seven fat cows that are swallowed up by seven lean cows, and of seven fat ears of grain swallowed by seven lean ears. Yosef iscalled out of the prison cell and interprets his dreams. He tells tham that seven years of plenty will be followed by seven years of hunger, and advises Pharaoh to prepare the grain during the first seven years. Pharaoh senses that Yosef is speaking truth and appoints Yosef to be the governor of Egypt. Yosef then marries Osnat, and they have two sons, Menassheh and Ephraim.
by Matisyahu and Ephraim Rosenstein
Light up and be a hero.
1. The real weapon is not ammunition but ideas. Ideas win wars.
The Chanukah uprising was brought about because the Seleucid Hellenist empire (an offshoot of an empire left behind by Alexander of Macedonia) was imposing its civilization of Hellenism on a nation that believed in one God. Hellenists offered pleasures and a good life — a sensual, body-oriented civilization inhabited with many gods and deities. It sounds quite tempting. But with all its temptation, it negates the deepest recesses of the human search. Human beings search for ideas, for inspiration, for one great redeeming hope that will make us one. This is represented by the belief in one God, as opposed to the many infighting, quarreling deities of the Greek Olympus. True, many gods, with their politics and failings, reflect pretty well human society.
For the first time in history a people rose up in rebellion as a result of their spiritual life being threatened rather than their physical survival. In the 2nd century BCE, the Syrian- Greek regime of Antiochus sought to pull Jews away from Judaism, with the hopes of assimilating them into the darkness of man centered Hellenism. The Syrian Greek warlord Antiochus outlawed aspects of Jewish observance such as circumcision, celebrating the new month and torah study. In response, a small band of courageous Jews took to the hills of Judea in open revolt against this threat. Antiochus sent thousands of well-armed troops to crush the rebellion but in the end he was himself defeated.
This weeks Torah Portion Podcast focuses on the Portion called Vayeshev (and Jacob settled) and begins the saga of the people of Israel in formation. Clothing becomes a big part of the story and exploring this issue helps highlight some insights in coping with the political struggles of this world Parshat Vayeshev
by Rabbi Chanan Morrison
Having survived the trickery of uncle Laban and the enmity of his brother Esau, Jacob finally returned to his homeland.
“Jacob arrived whole (shalem) to the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan” (Gen. 33:18).
In what way was Jacob shalem? The Talmud explains that he was “whole in body, whole in money, whole in his Torah knowledge” (Shabbat 33b).
The government of Israel is again being pressured and attacked. It is again being forced to compromise and retreat without any similar request being transmitted to the other side , that is the Palestinian side. All this without any tangible guarantees or assurances.
Instead of the Palestinians offering concrete proposals to enhance the possibility of peace we are receiving vague promises from this American Administration. The US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has offered Netanyahu some “gifts” in exchange for the building freeze in the Biblical heartland, among them 20 F-35 jets worth $3 billion, a veto on a unilateral declaration of statehood by the Palestinians, and a vow that the freeze would not include Jerusalem.
This weeks podcast discusses the Torah portion of Vayishlach (Genesis 32:4 – 36:43), where Jacob wrestles with the angel that represents Esav. What can we learn from that struggle? Are we facing similar struggles in our personal and in our national lives? This week’s Torah portion offers some insights to this and other questions relating … Read more
