Parashat Miketz
2 Tevet 5773 / 14-15 December 2012
Torah: Genesis 41:1 - 44:17
Maftir:
Numbers 7:48-53 (Shabbat Hanukkah)Haftarah: Zechariah 2:14 - 4:7 (Shabbat Hanukkah)
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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 Egypt (who, unbeknownst to them, is Joseph). He puts them in the same position, vis-a-vis Benjamin, that they were in regarding Joseph, when they abandoned him in the pit.
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 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 Egypt (who, unbeknownst to them, is Joseph). He puts them in the same position, vis-a-vis Benjamin, that they were in regarding Joseph, when they abandoned him in the pit.
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 Chag Urim Sameach - a Shabbat and a Hanukkah of peace and light, joy and wisdom.
Rabbi Richard A. Flom - ZSRS '00
Blogging at: rav-rich.blogspot.com/
Visit me on Facebook
"For the sake of Zion I will not be silent; for the sake of Jerusalem I will not be still." Isaiah 62:1
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Blogging at: rav-rich.blogspot.com/
Visit me on Facebook
"For the sake of Zion I will not be silent; for the sake of Jerusalem I will not be still." Isaiah 62:1
Refuah Shleimah: Bobbie
Chasen, Selby Horowitz, Pamela Huddleston, Sara Lanxner, Emily Levin, Yitzchak
Simcha ben Bayla, Herman Rassp, Helen Reiter, Len Reiter, Adin Ring, Gil
Robbins, Rachel Robbins, Judith Sakurai, Helen Tomsky, Betty Varon and Seymour
Waterman.
