Parashat Vayeishev
Kislev 23, 5783 / December 116-17, 2022
Torah: Genesis 37:1 - 40:23
Haftarah: Amos 2:6 - 3:8
Torah: Genesis 37:1 - 40:23
Haftarah: Amos 2:6 - 3:8
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Hanukkah begins on Kislev 25, at sundown of Sunday, December 18. Chag Urim Sameach!
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 December 20, 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 December 20, 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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WE’RE NO ANGELS
‘A man found (Joseph) wandering in the fields. The man asked him, "What are you looking for?" He answered, "I am looking for my brothers. Could you tell me where they are pasturing?" The man said, "They have gone from here, for I heard them say, 'Let us go to Dothan." So, Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.’ Genesis 37:15-17
This meeting between Joseph and the man appears to be pure happenstance. If so, we might ask, what would have happened had they not met? No slavery for Joseph and the Israelites, no Exodus from Egypt, no receiving the Torah from God, no history as we know it! Many commentators respond by saying that it was no man, but an angel dispatched by God.
I would like to suggest that it was in fact a man, but one with a holy purpose - to give Joseph information and direction. Joseph had that purpose, too - to ultimately give direction to his family as well as all of Egypt; and, to teach something to and to learn something from every person he met. Each of us, really, has the same holy purposes in life. Each of us has knowledge, wisdom and Torah to share with others and to give them direction, and we should do so. At the same time, we must seek out knowledge, wisdom and Torah from others.
Ben Zoma said: Who is wise? The one who learns from all people, as it is written (Psalm 119:99), “I have gained understanding from all my teachers.” Avot 4:1
We're no angels, but we should treat others as if they were – or at least, like the holy being with holy purpose that each of us is - think of what we, and they, would learn! Think of what our world would be like! If we kindle even one candle in ourselves and in our souls - the flame will spread to others and light our world.
Shabbat Shalom! Chag Urim Sameach! Happy Chanukah!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
Blogging at: http://rav-rich.blogspot.com/
Visit me on Facebook
Twitter: @DrahcirMolf
"שתיקה כהודאה דמיא"
"Silence in the face of wrongdoing is consent.”
BT Yevamot 88a
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