YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Vayeshev
This strange phrasing intrigues the Rabbis, particularly because only the saga of Yosef’s life follows, rather than all the offspring of Yakov. And so – since there are no punctuation marks in the Torah (at least not yet, thank G-d!) the phrase can be read a bit differently:
"These are the chronicles of Yakov/Yosef." Meaning that there is a vivid connection between the two; whatever happened to Yakov during his tumultuous life, would also happen to son Yosef.
Now, usually this is interpreted in a rather negative fashion: Yakov could not get along with his brother Esav; Yosef did not get along with his brothers, either. Yakov was forced to leave his home, and did not see his parents for many years; Yosef also was removed from his home
for decades. Yakov was treated shabbily in the house of Lavan; Yosef suffered numerous indignities in Egypt.
All this is true, but there is another spin to the story that I think is equally accurate, and much more inspirational.
Yakov and Yosef are unique, in that they represent the very first Jewish leaders of nations – Yakov of Israel, and Yosef of Mitzrayim. Now, to be an able and adept leader of people, on a grand scale, one must develop unique qualities. These include enduring hardship, and being able
to rise above it; encountering all different types of people; facing adversity yet, rather than succumbing to it, growing from it. And this is exactly what father and son do.
It is precisely because their lives were so very difficult and challenging that Yakov and Yosef emerged as steeled and savvy leaders who would nurture their people and guide us through the difficult early years. They would also serve as the prime model for our quintessential king, David, who followed a remarkably similar path from trauma to triumph.
But let me share another thought of mine on the special connection between Yakov and Yosef.
Rashi (37:33) quotes a perplexing Medrash that Yitzchak knew that his grandson, Yosef, was alive, yet he did not reveal it to his suffering son Yakov! Why not?! Was this not cruel in the extreme? Various answers are offered by Chazal: The brothers banned everyone - including their grandfather Yitzchak - from telling what happened to Yosef; Yitzchak did not want to reveal that which G-d had kept hidden, etc.
But I suggest there is something much more profound going on here.
Yitzchak had always hoped that there would be a "partnership of power" between the physical and the spiritual worlds. That was his "master plan" for Esav and Yakov; Esav would run the material world and support Yakov, who would lead the spiritual side. But Yakov did not allow it to happen; he kept Dina from marrying Esav - and was punished for it - for Dina could have brought out the good in Esav. Yosef’s rise to power in Egypt, the most powerful country in the world – and his subsequent nurturing of Am Yisrael when they descended into exile - was proof positive that Yitzchak was correct in his plan, that such a bold concept of the spiritual and material working hand-in-hand COULD indeed be fulfilled. And for this reason, Yitzchak kept mum, in order to let events take their course, until Yosef became Viceroy and he was finally proven right, thus creating the precedent for a future, more ideal world when the material and spiritual could complement, rather than compete against each other.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
