Parashat Vayiggash
Torah: Genesis 44:18 - 47:27
Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:15-28
Tevet 7, 5780 / January 3-4, 2020
COMING SOON: NEW ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT TBH/CBM!
Starting January 12, 2020, we'll have two Sunday morning
classes:
1. "(Re) Introduction to Judaism", with Rabbi
Richard Flom - Sundays at 9:30 am. This is a wonderful opportunity to
learn or relearn everything they should have taught you
in Hebrew School - and a whole lot more! This is equally useful
for people considering conversion to Judaism. Cost: $180 for non-members,
complimentary for members of TBH/CBM
2. "History of Israel and the Middle East",
with David Silon - Sundays at 11:00 am.
Class schedules, curricula, and reading lists will be
available on-line and in snail mail the first week of January.
Dedications and calendar follow below. For complete
listings, see our web site at: http://www.bnaihayim.com
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please
cite the source.
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DISHONOR BEFORE DEATH?
"And Joseph could not restrain himself before all who stood by him, and he called out, 'Remove everyone from before me!' So, no one remained with him when Joseph revealed himself to his brothers." Genesis 45:1
Rashi - He was unable to bear that Egyptians should stand by him and hear the humiliation of his brothers when he revealed himself.
A modern commentator, Z. Ron wonders how Rashi could possibly know what Joseph was thinking. Since he was the viceroy, maybe he did not want to embarrass himself before the Egyptians when he began crying. I might add that perhaps he would not want the Egyptians to know that this disheveled band of starving shepherds was his kin. The answer, according to Z. Ron, is in the next verse - "And he wept loudly, and Egypt heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard." Thus, he says, Rashi is right - Joseph chose to embarrass himself rather than his brothers.
Jewish tradition teaches that publicly embarrassing another person is a form of murder. That's why we have the phrase "character assassination". Words, like arrows, cannot be recalled once they go forth. Joseph chose to suffer whatever dishonor there might have been in displaying weakness, rather than have his brothers suffer the "death" of public humiliation.
"And Joseph could not restrain himself before all who stood by him, and he called out, 'Remove everyone from before me!' So, no one remained with him when Joseph revealed himself to his brothers." Genesis 45:1
Rashi - He was unable to bear that Egyptians should stand by him and hear the humiliation of his brothers when he revealed himself.
A modern commentator, Z. Ron wonders how Rashi could possibly know what Joseph was thinking. Since he was the viceroy, maybe he did not want to embarrass himself before the Egyptians when he began crying. I might add that perhaps he would not want the Egyptians to know that this disheveled band of starving shepherds was his kin. The answer, according to Z. Ron, is in the next verse - "And he wept loudly, and Egypt heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard." Thus, he says, Rashi is right - Joseph chose to embarrass himself rather than his brothers.
Jewish tradition teaches that publicly embarrassing another person is a form of murder. That's why we have the phrase "character assassination". Words, like arrows, cannot be recalled once they go forth. Joseph chose to suffer whatever dishonor there might have been in displaying weakness, rather than have his brothers suffer the "death" of public humiliation.
As it turns out, there was no embarrassment for Joseph at
all. That Joseph's brothers had come "... was pleasing in the eyes of
Pharaoh and in the eyes of his servants." (45:16) Sparing others
from humiliation, and risking it for oneself, reaps respect, not
dishonor. We gain respect by respecting the dignity of others.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
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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Candle lighting: 4:39 pm
Friday: A Capella Shabbat Evening Service –
6:30 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.
Saturday: Torah study/breakfast - 8:45
am. Shabbat Morning Service – 9:30 am. Kiddush lunch follows.
Sunday: Religious School – 9:30 am.
Tuesday: Lunch and Learn – 12:00
noon.
Friday, January 10: Shabbat Evening Service –
6:30 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.
Saturday, January 11: Torah
study/breakfast - 8:45 am. Shabbat Morning Service – 9:30 am. Junior
Congregation – 10:00 am. Kiddush lunch follows.
Sunday, January 12: Religious School – 9:30 am.
Friday, January 17: Simcha Shabbat Service and Dinner - 6:30 pm. We celebrate all the January simchas with special blessings and a complimentary Shabbat dinner! RSVP by January 15.
Next time you come to TBH/CBM, please bring some
non-perishable canned and packaged foods and personal items (no glass) for
SOVA.
This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for
Leah bat Sarah Imanu, Sarah bat Devorah, Susan Arbetman, Ken Bitticks, Elsbet
Brosky, Mark Brownstein, Jerry Daniels, Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr.
Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Bernard Garvin, Leah Granat, Gabor
Klein, Philip Kronzek, Tonya Kronzek (Zlata Malkah bat Sarah Imanu), Ina
Labowitz, Stuart Lytton, David Marks, Gail Neiman, Sandra Raab, Josef Sands,
Shirley Sands, Debra Schugar Strauss (Devorah bat Chaya Feiga), Helen Schugar
(Chaya Feiga bat Kreina), and William Sragow.
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.
