67 Lessons
Vayigash MASHIACH ben YOSEF
the Leadership Duel between Yoseph and Yehuda- The Haftarah of VaYigash
Description: Our sages draw the confrontation between Yehuda and Yosef as the two types of leadership in Jewish history. Through this we can finally understand who exactly is that mysterious "Mashiach ben Yosef", and what Rav Kook (based on the Vilna Gaon) meant when he said that Dr. Herzl had a spark of that Mashiach.
Vayigash Monotheism Even in Ancient Egypt!
Before Yaakov Avinu (Patriarch Jacob) leaves the Holy Land for the last time and descends to Egypt with his family, G-d appears to him "in the visions of the night [and says to him]: Yaakov, Yaakov… I am the Lord, the G-d of your father; do not fear to descend to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there. I will descend with you to Egypt, and I will certainly raise you up, and Yosef will place his hand on your eyes" (B'reshit 46,2-4). The final phrase in that verse is somewhat enigmatic, and has been explained in various ways...
Vayigash Jacob sent Judah before him... to guide him: like Jacob, like the Ben Ish Chai
What did our father Jacob ask of Joseph just before he went down to Egypt? And how are these things related to good leadership?
Vayigash The Birth of Forgiveness
Joseph forgave. That was a first in history. Yet the Torah hints that the brothers did not fully appreciate the significance of his words. After all, he did not explicitly use the word ‘forgive’. He told them not to be distressed
Vayigash Did He Know?
How much did our father Jacob really know about the events previously described in the Torah readings? There are various streams of thought regarding this matter.
Vayigash All Together Now!
Yakov is anxious. Frightened. Scared. He is about to leave Israel, the land he knows is his true home, for the depraved environment of Egypt. On the other hand, he is desperate to be reunited with Yosef.
Praying, Kiddush and the Meals A Haftarah from Yechezkel
Who chose which haftaros we read? In what ways is the book of Yechezkel unusual? Why is the haftarah on Shabbos seldom from Yechezkel?
Vayigash The Hidden Sale
Before revealing his identity, Yosef commanded all others to leave the room (ibid. 45:1). Why was this important to him?
