YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Vayechi
The leadership struggle between Yehuda and Yosef, for the time and for all of history, accompanies the narrative starting from Parashat Vayeishev, including harsh events. On the other hand, there were also moments of great grace and self-sacrifice that healed wounds. These moments allowed the tensions to ease and enabled national energies to be channeled for positive matters.
The offspring of Yehuda and of Yosef had a common denominator – they had a status of nobility in the Israelite community in Egypt. Yosef is considered the crown of his brothers (Bereishit 49:26), as his standing as viceroy elevated the whole family. Yehuda, on the other hand, was a major part of the delegation who felt the need to approach Yosef after Yaakov’s funeral, with the suggestion of "We are slaves to you" (ibid. 50:18). The descendants of Yosef’s son Menashe were also frustrated over the fact that Yaakov gave precedence and prominence to Ephrayim and his family (ibid. 48:19-20).
What did these families (families used to be the dominant factors in a couple’s match) do to deal with their situation? The pasuk (Divrei Hayamim I, 2:21-22) tells that Chetzron (the firstborn of Yehuda’s most prominent son, Peretz, through whom went the chain to the monarchal dynasty) married the daughter of Menashe’s son Machir. One of this couple’s offspring was the prominent Yair. This marriage occurred many years before the Exodus from Egypt. We note that Machir also married off his daughter to a tribesman of Binyamin (compare Divrei Hayamim I, 7:11 and Bereishit 46:21).
It is possible to look at these steps as "alliances of the disappointed losers," as at the time, Chetzron, Menashe, and Binyamin were not in leadership positions. But we prefer to raise a different possibility with a stronger message, which is more likely to be true. The people of Yehuda, as led by Chetzron, and the people of Yosef, as led by Machir, understood that the tension between Yehuda and Yosef, which caused the sale of Yosef and thereby the exile to Egypt, needed to be remedied.
Only repentance and acceptance of the concept of mutual responsibility could advance the nation and ensure redemption. The sons of Leah had to be ready to pay a price and Yosef had to show magnanimity in forgiving his brothers. These steps paved the way for the future wedding that furthered the joining together of the potentially rival tribes. This joining together is far better than the question of "Who will be at the head?"
Mutual responsibility and being willing to share the burden are that which advance Israel toward repentance of portions of the nation, in the religious and the social realms, and full liberation.
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.
