30 Kislev 5776 / 11-12
December 2015
Torah: Genesis 41:1 - 44:17
(Aliyot 1-6)
Shabbat Rosh Chodesh:
Numbers 28:9-15 (Aliyah 7)
Maftir: Numbers 7:48-53
(Shabbat Hanukkah)
Haftarah: Zechariah 2:14 -
4:7 (Shabbat Hanukkah)
Please feel free to pass
this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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REPENTANCE, REDEMPTION AND FORGIVENESS
"And Joseph said to them, 'This is what I spoke to you, saying, you are spies.'" Genesis 42:14
The sons of Jacob are put to the test. In order to demonstrate that they are not spies, they must bring Joseph's full brother, Benjamin, before the viceroy ofEgypt
Nechama Leibowitz suggests that this is also a test of whether they have done teshuvah - to see if they have repented of what they did to Joseph. She cites Maimonides, who teaches that the test of true repentance is whether, given the opportunity to commit the same sin, the sinner refrains - out of repentance, rather than fear or weakness.
The brothers agree to the demand. But another aspect of teshuvah is admission - one must acknowledge and accept responsibility for the transgression. This they do, at verse 21, when "They said to each other, 'We are being punished on account of our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul as he pleaded with us, and we would not hear.'" According to Rabbi David of Lilov, only then did their redemption begin - only then did God fill Joseph's heart with love and mercy.
Perhaps only then was Joseph able to forgive them. Repentance is a multi-step process. Neither words nor deeds alone suffice. The same is true of forgiveness. Ultimately, Joseph forgives not with mere words, but with hugs and kisses and gifts and acceptance - and reunion. It leads to one of the happiest scenes in the Torah. Try repenting for the hurt you've given others - try forgiving for the hurt you've endured. Hear the anguish of another's soul. You have nothing to lose but your unhappiness.
I wish you a Shabbat Shalom and a continuing Chag Urim Sameach - a Shabbat and a Hanukkah of peace and light, joy and wisdom.
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REPENTANCE, REDEMPTION AND FORGIVENESS
"And Joseph said to them, 'This is what I spoke to you, saying, you are spies.'" Genesis 42:14
The sons of Jacob are put to the test. In order to demonstrate that they are not spies, they must bring Joseph's full brother, Benjamin, before the viceroy of
Nechama Leibowitz suggests that this is also a test of whether they have done teshuvah - to see if they have repented of what they did to Joseph. She cites Maimonides, who teaches that the test of true repentance is whether, given the opportunity to commit the same sin, the sinner refrains - out of repentance, rather than fear or weakness.
The brothers agree to the demand. But another aspect of teshuvah is admission - one must acknowledge and accept responsibility for the transgression. This they do, at verse 21, when "They said to each other, 'We are being punished on account of our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul as he pleaded with us, and we would not hear.'" According to Rabbi David of Lilov, only then did their redemption begin - only then did God fill Joseph's heart with love and mercy.
Perhaps only then was Joseph able to forgive them. Repentance is a multi-step process. Neither words nor deeds alone suffice. The same is true of forgiveness. Ultimately, Joseph forgives not with mere words, but with hugs and kisses and gifts and acceptance - and reunion. It leads to one of the happiest scenes in the Torah. Try repenting for the hurt you've given others - try forgiving for the hurt you've endured. Hear the anguish of another's soul. You have nothing to lose but your unhappiness.
I wish you a Shabbat Shalom and a continuing Chag Urim Sameach - a Shabbat and a Hanukkah of peace and light, joy and wisdom.
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
Congregation Beth Meier - Studio City , CA
Blogging at: http://rav-rich.blogspot.com
"From the place where we are
absolutely right, flowers will never grow in the spring."
"מן המקום שבו אנו צודקים לא יצמחו לעולם פרחים באביב"
Yehuda Amichai
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Candlelighting:
4:26 PM (light Hanukkiah first – 6th night)
Friday: Family Shabbat Evening Service – 7:30 pm. Oneg
Shabbat follows.
Saturday: Shabbat morning service – 10:00 am. Kiddush lunch
follows.
Sunday: Religious
School
Tuesday: Lunch and Learn – noon.
Friday, 18 December: Shabbat Evening Service – 8:00 PM.
Oneg Shabbat follows.
Saturday, 19 December: Shabbat morning service – 10:00 am. Kiddush lunch
follows.
Sunday, 20 December: NO Religious
School
Tuesday, 22 December: Lunch and Learn – noon.
Friday, 25 December: Office Closed – Federal Holiday .
NO Shabbat Evening Service.
Saturday, 26 December: Shabbat morning service – 10:00 am. Kiddush lunch
follows.
Tuesday, 29 December: NO Lunch and Learn
Friday, 1 January: Office Closed – Federal Holiday .
NO Shabbat Evening Service.
Saturday, 2 January: Shabbat morning service – 10:00 am. Kiddush lunch
follows.
Next time you come to Beth Meier,
please bring some non-perishable canned and packaged foods and personal
items (no glass) for SOVA.
Congregation Beth Meier extends
condolences to Alex Delnik on the passing of his father. Funeral was on
Wednesday. Y’hi zikhrono liv’rakhah – May his memory be a blessing.
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah
shleimah for Avi Shmuel Yosef Hakohen ben Bella, Miriam Minya bat
Alisa Batya, Sarah bat Devorah, Ken Bitticks, Elsbet
Brosky, Jerry Daniels, Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel
Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Gig Flom (Gittel Tobi bat
Blanca), Leonard Foint (Eliezer Moshe ben Esther), Jerry
Forman, Pamela Huddleston, Stephanie Kane, Elaine Kleiger,
Philip Kovac, Marsha Meyers, and Gil Robbins.
Please let me know if there is anyone you
would like to add to this list or if there is anyone who may be removed from
this list.
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