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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Vayigash
between Yosef & Yehuda, as the brothers are
finally reunited after 22 years of separation.
Yosef has put them through quite a lot of trauma
& tribulation until now. But why did Yosef do this to them?
Some would say this was Yosef’s chance to gain
revenge for what they did to him. Yosef was
incarcerated, demeaned & in fear of losing his
life - & so now it is the brothers’ turn to suffer.
But is this the way a "Tzadik" – as Yosef is
colloquially known - would act? Perhaps, as some
suggest, Yosef was creating a scenario whereby
the brothers once again would be in position to
either save or sacrifice another son of Rachel –
Binyamin - & thus could do Teshuva for their past abandonment of Yosef.
I have a different thought. Yosef foresaw that Am
Yisrael would go through several exiles & many
tough times in the centuries ahead (see Rashi
45:14) & so he was preparing his brothers, both
present & future, by giving them strategies for survival.
He "forces" Yehuda to gather his courage &
confront him, though he was a powerful potentate.
Sometimes we would have to act bravely & stand
tall before those who would challenge us. We
would tell our oppressors that we refuse to give
up our adherence to Mitzvot or, like the Ramban,
we would defend our Torah before the masses, even at the risk of our lives.
The brothers were told to say they were
cattlemen, a profession that was despised by the
agrarian Egyptians, so that we would be separated
into our own communities, where we could more
easily create the institutions we needed for spiritual support.
And then Yosef gives another instruction for the
"journey" ahead of us in history: "Al tirg’zu
ba’derech, do not become agitated on the way."
Rashi defines this cryptic phrase in 3 ways, & I
offer my thoughts as to what I think Yosef is trying to tell us:
1) "Do not engage in Halachic dispute such that
you will lose your way." That is, Halacha - which
actually means to traverse - should have the
overall objective of bringing brothers together,
not separating them. This is a lesson we still need to learn.
2) "Do not take steps that are too big." While it
is perfectly fine to achieve wealth & success in
the Diaspora – something we have certainly
accomplished over the centuries – be careful;
don’t leave too big a footprint. When Jews stand
out too much in the Exile, we invariably make
ourselves targets, something Western Jewry is
experiencing every day in the current crisis we’re in.
3) Finally, "Enter the city when the sun is
shining." We Jews, as we moved around the planet
in our wanderings, have generally chosen to live
in urban areas of large, prosperous cities in
leading nations. We seek, in essence, "sunny
climes" where job prospects are good & where we
can find a comfortable home. But there is a flip
side to this, as well; the sun also sets. In
other words, "climate change" is always on the
horizon, & the cushy spot we created for
ourselves can quickly turn dark & gloomy.
Yosef prophetically gives us the guidebook for Jewish history.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
