Parashat Vayiggash
Tevet 11, 5784 / December 22-23, 2023
Torah:
Genesis 44:18 - 47:2
Haftarah:
Ezekiel 37:15-28
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This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for all who have been wounded in the terrorist attacks and in fighting against the terrorists, as well as innocent non-combatants caught in the crossfire.
This d'var torah is offered in memory of all the victims of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah. Y’hi zikhronam liv’rakhah – May their memories be a blessing. And may the memory of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah and all their supporters be forever erased.
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Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. On Monday, January 8, we'll be at BT Shabbat 121a, page 197 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1 – "...ת'ר מעשה ונפלה דליקה" - "Our Rabbis taught that a fire once broke out ....”
Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) is available for on-line reading or as a downloadable PDF at:
A pointed Hebrew text version with different pagination is available at Sefaria:
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Check out our wonderful community, and get lots of info about our various programs and becoming a Member at: https://bnaihayim.org/
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Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog which you should read at:
Dr. Steve Pearlman writes up the "Midrashim of the Week", which you should read at:
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Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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SAME AS HE EVER WAS
‘And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me,” and they came near;
and he said, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.”’ Genesis
45:4.
Menachem Mendel, the Kotzker Rebbe, interprets our verse in this way: “I am the
same Joseph that I was when you sold me into Egypt. I did not change in
this corrupt country, and you do not have to be afraid that you caused me to
become corrupted. I am Joseph your brother, the son of Jacob, just as
then, when ‘you sold me into Egypt.’”
"Joseph Recognized by His Brothers" (Léon Pierre Urbain Bourgeois - 1863)
Joseph appeared to be an Egyptian. He spoke the language. He dressed
like Egyptian royalty. He had power equivalent to that of Pharaoh. In
order to do his job properly, he had to be more than passingly familiar with
and sensitive to Egyptian religion, culture, politics, etc. He was an
Egyptian. And yet, in his essence, he was the same Joseph he had always
been - the son of Jacob, loyal to the God of Israel.
The
United States is not Egypt, thank God. But there is no question
that America creates danger for Jews in terms of total assimilation and
the end of Jewish identity. However, one can be a serious and practicing
Jew and still actively take part in the larger secular, non-Jewish
culture. But it requires fortitude and an awareness of boundaries, as well
as education in Judaism. The Midrash tells us that Joseph thought constantly of
his heritage, of his father and of his God. By doing so, Joseph maintained
his identity (and his sanity!), despite being a stranger in a strange land.
Shabbat
Shalom!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
Rabbi Emeritus, Temple B’nai Hayim/Congregation Beth Meier
הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם
Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.
Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1
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