This weeks Parsha Preview is co-dedicated to the refuah of Sara bat Hodda, Avraham Moshe Ben Miriam Tova and Kyla Chaya Bat Sarah Polson may Hashem grant them all a complete recovery very soon.
I hope you are all enjoying the holiday break.
Join my blog @ http://parshapreview.blogspot.com or
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Vayigash
Genesis 44:18-47:27
Candle Lighting in Toronto 4:28 P.M.
Candle Lighting in Thornhill 4:27 P.M.
Sunday December 27, 2009- Fast day, Asarah Betevet Fast begins at 6:17 A.M.-Fast Ends 5:36 P.M.
Main characters of this week’s Parsha
Yehuda
Yosef
Yaakov
Benyamin
Yehuda intercedes with Yoseph to plead for the release of Benyamin, offering himself as a slave to the Egyptian ruler in Benyamin's stead. Upon observing his brothers' loyalty to one another, Yoseph discloses his identity to them. "I am Yoseph," he declares. "Is my father still alive?"
The brothers are overcome by shame and remorse, but Yoseph comforts them. "It was not you who sent me here," he says to them, "but G-d. It has all been ordained from Above to save us, and the entire region, from famine."
The brothers rush back to Canaan with the news. Yaakov comes to Egypt with his sons and their families -- seventy souls in all – (Yocheved Moshe’s mother is born as Yaakov and his entourage enters Egypt. Hashem always sends the Refuah before the punishment) and is reunited with his beloved son after 22 years. On his way to Egypt he receives the Divine promise: "Fear not to go down to Egypt; for I will there make of you a great nation. I will go down with you into Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again."
Yoseph gathers the wealth of Egypt by selling food and seed during the famine. Pharaoh gives Yaakov's family the fertile county of Goshen to settle and the children of Israel prosper in their Egyptian exile.
Food for further thought……….
When Yaakov and family depart for Egypt, are they planning "yerida?" In other words, do they intend to make Egypt their permanent home, or are they planning just a 'short visit?'
In Parshat Miketz, Yosef rises to royalty in Egypt. Yet, despite his high position, not once does he attempt to contact his father. Does Yosef no longer care for his father who loved him so dearly and now grieves for his lost son? In Parshat Vayeshev, Yaakov Avinu's ten sons conspired to kill their own brother for what appears to be petty jealousy. Can there be any excuse for this cruel behavior? What are your thoughts?
Does Yosef have a plan?
He was certainly planning a way out of jail when he interpreted the dream of the "sar ha'Mashkim" (see 40:13-15). He was definitely planning his own political appointment when he interpreted Pharaoh's dreams (see 41:33-36). Yosef was not only a dreamer; he was also a master planner. But what was his plan when he: accused his brothers of being spies, returned their money, and hid his cup in Benyamin's bag, etc.? Was he simply teasing his brothers - in revenge; or did he have a more altruistic motive? As the Torah never reveals that motive, answering this question requires a lot of deductive reasoning.
WHY YOSEF DOESN’T WRITE HOME
Yosef's very close relationship with his father (recall how the Torah described him as Yaakov's "ben zkunim" - see 37:3), one would have expected that he make every possible attempt to contact his father. Yet, even after his appointment as head servant of the House of Potiphar, and later as the Commissioner of Egypt, (second only to Pharaoh see 41:44), Yosef makes no effort to inform his father that he is alive and well.
Does Yosef no longer care for his father who loved him so dearly and now grieves for his lost son? Has he wiped his past from his memory?
To answer this question, Ramban (Rabbi Moses ben Nachman 1194-1270) see his commentary to 42:9) suggests that Yosef's actions were motivated by his aspiration to ensure the fulfillment of his dreams. According to Ramban, Yosef understood that his slavery, and his entire predicament in Egypt, was part of a Divine plan to ensure that his childhood dreams would come true. He also understood (for some reason) that for this to happen, he could not contact his family. And when necessary, he would even plan ahead to help his dreams along. Ramban's interpretation beautifully explains Yosef's first plan (i.e. accusing his brothers as spies) - as its goal was to force the brothers to bring Benyamin, so that all the brothers would bow down to him. This would enable the fulfillment of his first dream - of the sheaves bowing down to him in the field. His second plan (i.e. hiding his cup in Benyamin's bag) was to force them to bring his father as well - to fulfill his second dream - i.e. the sun and moon and stars bowing down - while protecting Benyamin in the interim (from potential injury by his brothers). In this manner, Ramban explains why Yosef did not write home:
"For had it not been for this (need to fulfill his dreams), Yosef would have committed a terrible sin to cause his father such grief and make him spend so many years in sorrow..."
According to Ramban, the need to fulfill his dreams allowed Yosef to treat his father and brothers in such a cruel manner.
FULFILLING DREAMS OR KEEPING HALACHA?
In case you found something 'bothersome' about Ramban's approach, don't feel bad. Later commentators take issue with this conclusion that it would be permissible to cause other people terrible grief, just to make sure a dream comes true. (See Nechama Leibowitz on Sefer Breishit who quotes various sources in this regard and deals with this issue in depth.)
This question leads Abravanel (Don Judah Abravanel) to suggest a very different approach. He agrees (like Ramban) that Yosef had a master plan, however, he disagrees as to its goal. Abravanel contends that Yosef's goal was to bring his brothers towards repentance for their terrible deeds. Although he planned to ultimately reveal himself; before doing so, he wanted to make sure that they had first performed proper teshuva. Abravanel's approach neatly explains just about all of Yosef's actions - which certainly caused his brothers to repent (see 42:21 & 44:16). However, it is not so clear why the goal of helping his brothers to perform "teshuva" would allow Yosef to cause his father continued grief. Furthermore, Abravanel's interpretation only explains Yosef's behavior after his brothers arrived to buy food; but it does not explain why Yosef did not contact his father for some twenty years beforehand.
If you would like to be added to my email list please reply to yvalloul@gmail.com with the words add in the subject line. If you want your name removed please reply to yvalloul@gmail.com with the word delete in the subject line. Why are you receiving this e-mail? At one time or another we were in contact. Please keep in mind that I am doing this to disseminate Torah. If you do not wish to receive this email I will remove your address immediately. Please forward this email to your friends.
If you need a place for Shabbat Meals or you would like to experience a more traditional Shabbat experience please do not hesitate to call. 416-829-1761.
I hope you are all enjoying the holiday break.
Join my blog @ http://parshapreview.blogspot.com or
http://apps.facebook.com/liveblog/entry/465404
Vayigash
Genesis 44:18-47:27
Candle Lighting in Toronto 4:28 P.M.
Candle Lighting in Thornhill 4:27 P.M.
Sunday December 27, 2009- Fast day, Asarah Betevet Fast begins at 6:17 A.M.-Fast Ends 5:36 P.M.
Main characters of this week’s Parsha
Yehuda
Yosef
Yaakov
Benyamin
Yehuda intercedes with Yoseph to plead for the release of Benyamin, offering himself as a slave to the Egyptian ruler in Benyamin's stead. Upon observing his brothers' loyalty to one another, Yoseph discloses his identity to them. "I am Yoseph," he declares. "Is my father still alive?"
The brothers are overcome by shame and remorse, but Yoseph comforts them. "It was not you who sent me here," he says to them, "but G-d. It has all been ordained from Above to save us, and the entire region, from famine."
The brothers rush back to Canaan with the news. Yaakov comes to Egypt with his sons and their families -- seventy souls in all – (Yocheved Moshe’s mother is born as Yaakov and his entourage enters Egypt. Hashem always sends the Refuah before the punishment) and is reunited with his beloved son after 22 years. On his way to Egypt he receives the Divine promise: "Fear not to go down to Egypt; for I will there make of you a great nation. I will go down with you into Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again."
Yoseph gathers the wealth of Egypt by selling food and seed during the famine. Pharaoh gives Yaakov's family the fertile county of Goshen to settle and the children of Israel prosper in their Egyptian exile.
Food for further thought……….
When Yaakov and family depart for Egypt, are they planning "yerida?" In other words, do they intend to make Egypt their permanent home, or are they planning just a 'short visit?'
In Parshat Miketz, Yosef rises to royalty in Egypt. Yet, despite his high position, not once does he attempt to contact his father. Does Yosef no longer care for his father who loved him so dearly and now grieves for his lost son? In Parshat Vayeshev, Yaakov Avinu's ten sons conspired to kill their own brother for what appears to be petty jealousy. Can there be any excuse for this cruel behavior? What are your thoughts?
Does Yosef have a plan?
He was certainly planning a way out of jail when he interpreted the dream of the "sar ha'Mashkim" (see 40:13-15). He was definitely planning his own political appointment when he interpreted Pharaoh's dreams (see 41:33-36). Yosef was not only a dreamer; he was also a master planner. But what was his plan when he: accused his brothers of being spies, returned their money, and hid his cup in Benyamin's bag, etc.? Was he simply teasing his brothers - in revenge; or did he have a more altruistic motive? As the Torah never reveals that motive, answering this question requires a lot of deductive reasoning.
WHY YOSEF DOESN’T WRITE HOME
Yosef's very close relationship with his father (recall how the Torah described him as Yaakov's "ben zkunim" - see 37:3), one would have expected that he make every possible attempt to contact his father. Yet, even after his appointment as head servant of the House of Potiphar, and later as the Commissioner of Egypt, (second only to Pharaoh see 41:44), Yosef makes no effort to inform his father that he is alive and well.
Does Yosef no longer care for his father who loved him so dearly and now grieves for his lost son? Has he wiped his past from his memory?
To answer this question, Ramban (Rabbi Moses ben Nachman 1194-1270) see his commentary to 42:9) suggests that Yosef's actions were motivated by his aspiration to ensure the fulfillment of his dreams. According to Ramban, Yosef understood that his slavery, and his entire predicament in Egypt, was part of a Divine plan to ensure that his childhood dreams would come true. He also understood (for some reason) that for this to happen, he could not contact his family. And when necessary, he would even plan ahead to help his dreams along. Ramban's interpretation beautifully explains Yosef's first plan (i.e. accusing his brothers as spies) - as its goal was to force the brothers to bring Benyamin, so that all the brothers would bow down to him. This would enable the fulfillment of his first dream - of the sheaves bowing down to him in the field. His second plan (i.e. hiding his cup in Benyamin's bag) was to force them to bring his father as well - to fulfill his second dream - i.e. the sun and moon and stars bowing down - while protecting Benyamin in the interim (from potential injury by his brothers). In this manner, Ramban explains why Yosef did not write home:
"For had it not been for this (need to fulfill his dreams), Yosef would have committed a terrible sin to cause his father such grief and make him spend so many years in sorrow..."
According to Ramban, the need to fulfill his dreams allowed Yosef to treat his father and brothers in such a cruel manner.
FULFILLING DREAMS OR KEEPING HALACHA?
In case you found something 'bothersome' about Ramban's approach, don't feel bad. Later commentators take issue with this conclusion that it would be permissible to cause other people terrible grief, just to make sure a dream comes true. (See Nechama Leibowitz on Sefer Breishit who quotes various sources in this regard and deals with this issue in depth.)
This question leads Abravanel (Don Judah Abravanel) to suggest a very different approach. He agrees (like Ramban) that Yosef had a master plan, however, he disagrees as to its goal. Abravanel contends that Yosef's goal was to bring his brothers towards repentance for their terrible deeds. Although he planned to ultimately reveal himself; before doing so, he wanted to make sure that they had first performed proper teshuva. Abravanel's approach neatly explains just about all of Yosef's actions - which certainly caused his brothers to repent (see 42:21 & 44:16). However, it is not so clear why the goal of helping his brothers to perform "teshuva" would allow Yosef to cause his father continued grief. Furthermore, Abravanel's interpretation only explains Yosef's behavior after his brothers arrived to buy food; but it does not explain why Yosef did not contact his father for some twenty years beforehand.
If you would like to be added to my email list please reply to yvalloul@gmail.com with the words add in the subject line. If you want your name removed please reply to yvalloul@gmail.com with the word delete in the subject line. Why are you receiving this e-mail? At one time or another we were in contact. Please keep in mind that I am doing this to disseminate Torah. If you do not wish to receive this email I will remove your address immediately. Please forward this email to your friends.
If you need a place for Shabbat Meals or you would like to experience a more traditional Shabbat experience please do not hesitate to call. 416-829-1761.
Shabbat Shalom
Yitzchak Alloul
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