Introduction to Isaac's Parsha Corner
Isaac’s Parsha Corner
With the completion of the Babylonian Talmud cycle many have decided to start new Torah learning initiatives. Personally, I find the most enjoyable learning is the weekly Parsha. During summer months I have the opportunity to discuss Torah ideas with many friends in Bradley Beach. However, because it’s only during summer, we miss out discussing the winter Parsha sections! Therefore, I am embarking on an experiment to try capturing the fun and the excitement of our summer study sessions in a weekly column. I promise to limit each column to a few points. It will be similar in style and content to our regular Shabbat discussions I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback – please send your comments and questions to yitzshul@gmail.com.
Vayeshev, Mekeitz, Vayigash
In these three Torah portions we read the story of Joseph and his family. I would like to address some problems in the story and, hopefully, shine some light on this fascinating portion of the torah.
A/ What is the big deal with Josephs dreams? What do the dreams mean? Are Joseph’s and Jacob’s dreams related?
Jacob’s first dream was at the border of the land of Israel where he dreamt about angels ascending and descending. According to Rashi the angels based in Israel were ascending to heaven to be replaced by the angels based outside the land of Israel. The angels had to switch because different angels serve different purposes. Jacob’s mission while in Israel was about to change as he left the holy land of Isaac and Abraham. Jacob’s next dream was about sheep reproductive patterns. That dream taught Jacob the secret of how to deal with Lavan the trickster. The information Jacob learned in that dream made him a rich man. Jacob’s wealth was made OUTSIDE of the land of Israel. Israel was and still is the land of spiritual development not wealth accumulation. Israel based angels assisted Jacob in his spiritual pursuits. The diaspora angels helped him get rich. Abraham similarly gained his wealth in Egypt. The covenant of the pieces “Bris Bein Habesarim” predicted an exile from Israel into a foreign nation. It concluded with a promise of great wealth. That wealth was to come OUTSIDE the land of Israel. “After their enslavement the people will go out carrying a great bounty”. (Bereishis 15:14)
Joseph first dreamt of sheaves of wheat, and then of heavenly bodies all bowing to him. The sheaves symbolize wealth. Joseph accumulated great wealth. He also achieved the great power that came with that wealth. In the second dream even heavenly bodies bowed down to him . Joseph was the super-successful son of Jacob in the diaspora. Later, in the Exodus story, Joseph’s bones lead the Jewish nation out of Egypt with all the wealth that he had accumulated for Pharaoh and Egypt. “The entire nation was busy with collecting the wealth of Egypt and Moshe was busy collecting Joseph’s bones” (Sotah 13a). Moshe understood that it was the wealth that Joseph created that was leaving and that it would be Joseph’s bones that would lead the people. “Hayam Raah Vayanose“ The see saw and it split (Psalms 114 v3 ) What did it see to split? It saw the bones of Joseph and split”. (Midrash Rabah)
B/ Why did Joseph mistreat his brothers? Why not just come clean right away?
Many see Joseph’s mistreatment as a pretext for fulfilling his own dreams. This explanation is hard to understand. Why should he have cared one way or another whether his dreams would or would not be fulfilled? I think he mistreated his brothers because he was mistreated by them. He was living the good life in Egypt; everyone loved him, his lovely wife and his two beautiful children. The brothers were just a bad memory. “He named his first son Menashe for G-d has helped me forget my travails and my father’s house.” (Genesis 41:51). The only thing he missed was his little brother Benjamin. He worried that his crazy brothers would hurt Benjamin The entire episode was not designed to reconcile Joseph to his brothers, but to protect Benjamin. His plan worked well. By the end of parshas Miketz he has Benjamin in custody and a good reason to send the brothers home. The next event would have been a tearful reunion with Benjamin sans the brothers. In Vayigash, however, Judah put a major crimp into Joseph’s plan. He offered to trade his own life for that of Benjamin. As a slave, Judah the great warrior was a much more valuable slave than Benjamin would have been. At the same time, Judah’s plea for the sake of the father must have also affected Joseph. Joseph decided then that he didn’t want to be the cause of any more suffering back home, which resulted in the tearful reunion in this week’s parsha.
Have a great Shabbat.
Isaac