Tevet 7, 5783 / December 30-31, 2022
Parashat Vayiggash
Torah: Genesis 44:18 - 47:27
Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:15-28
Parashat Vayiggash
Torah: Genesis 44:18 - 47:27
Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:15-28
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This d'var torah is offered in honor of my wonderful wife/life partner Lynn Kronzek, on the occasion of our 42nd wedding anniversary on Wednesday, December 28. It seems like only yesterday!
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Chanah Bella bat Kreina and Devorah bat Feigel.
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Lunch and Learn meets Tuesdays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. We're continuing to read and discuss the Midrashic collection Ein Ya'akov.
On January 3, we'll be at BT Shabbat 32a - page 127 of Ein Ya'akov Volume 1 - "וגברי היכי מיבדקי?" - "And when are the sins of men investigated?”
Ein Ya'akov is available for on-line reading or as a downloadable PDF at:
https://hebrewbooks.org/9630
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Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog which you should read at:
https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/
On January 3, we'll be at BT Shabbat 32a - page 127 of Ein Ya'akov Volume 1 - "וגברי היכי מיבדקי?" - "And when are the sins of men investigated?”
Ein Ya'akov is available for on-line reading or as a downloadable PDF at:
https://hebrewbooks.org/9630
-----------------------------------------------
Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog which you should read at:
https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/
Dr. Steve Pearlman writes up the "Midrashim of the Week", which you should read at:
https://midrashsrp.wordpress.com
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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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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.
"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.
"The Reconciliation of Joseph and His Brothers" - Peter Cornelius 1817
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! Happy Secular New Year!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom, Rabbi Emeritus
Temple B'nai Hayim/Congregation Beth Meier
.אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם? הַלוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם
Who is wise? One who learns from every person.
Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1
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