YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Vayechi
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Revital Bat Lea
The Meshech Chuchma (on Bererishit 30:15) explains that Yosef was telling them why he could not take them as slaves. The halacha that a Jew may not sell himself as a slave to his fellow Jew is based on the pasuk: "They are My slaves." We infer from here that as we are servants to Hashem, we cannot sell ourselves as servants to anyone else (Bava Metzia 10a). Thus, Yosef was saying that since he was not Hashem’s substitute, he had no right to take Hashem’s servants as slaves. According to this explanation, though, it sounds that if not for the halachic problem, Yosef might have taken his brothers as slaves, as his childhood dreams hinted.
Other sources see these words as means of rebuke. Rachel had pleaded with Yaakov to ensure that she bear a child. Yaakov responded with the same phrase: "Am I substitute of Hashem, who withheld from you the fruit of the womb?" The midrash (Bereishit Rabba 71:7) states that Hashem remarked at that time that as a result of Yaakov’s insensitive words, his ten sons would hear the same words from Rachel’s son (Yosef). Clearly then, the midrash saw Yosef’s words as harsh ones, perhaps to a similar degree as follows from the Meshech Chuchma.
We can suggest another explanation of Yosef’s words based on another analysis of Yaakov’s use of the same phrase. Yaakov told Rachel that he could not control if and when she would have a child, as it was part of a Divine plan, which only Hashem knows. As it turns out, the Divine plan had Rachel being a matriarch, just that her children would be born sometime later.
What resulted from Yosef’s "delayed" birth? The Torah tells us that Yosef was a ben zekunim (a child raised in Yaakov’s old age) and gave this as the reason that Yaakov preferred him to his brothers (Bereishit 37:3). This favoritism was the first reason for their jealousy (ibid.:4) which ultimately led to Yosef’s being sold as a slave. Thus, Yosef could have used the same words to hint the following. Yaakov had said that there was a Divine reason that he was born late. It may have been to cause discord, which would cause Yosef to precede his brother’s down to Egypt. Thus the sale itself was part of the Divine plan, and Yosef did not hold his brothers fully responsible for it. As the pasuk continues, while the brothers thought that they were doing something harsh to Yosef, Hashem saw it as a way to save the family from famine.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.