Congregation Kneseth Israel

...proudly serving the Jewish community of Anne Arundel County since 1906

Parsha of the Week:

Vayigash (Genesis 44:18 - 47:27; Haftorah Ezekiel 37:15-28)

December 31, 2011 5 Tevet 5772

Synopsis: Judah negotiated with Joseph; Joseph revealed himself to his brothers; Joseph's brothers went back to Jacob to tell him that Joseph was alive; Jacob/Israel went down to Egypt; G-d appeared to Jacob in his night vision; the meeting between Jacob/Israel and Joseph; Joseph convinced Pharaoh to give his family the city of Goshen.

Q: The Bible states, "Judah went to Joseph and said... 'To me you are like Pharaoh" (Genesis 44:18). What did Judah mean??

A: First, Judah indicated his willingness to give to Joseph the respect due Pharaoh. He told Joseph that if he kept treating them badly, and kept Benjamin captive, he (Joseph) would suffer from leprosy like Pharaoh. Judah was very insistent that Joseph keep his word to protect Benjamin. "That if you annoy me, I will kill you along with your king" (Rashi; Genesis 44:18).

Q: Judah says to Joseph, "If you do not let us take Benjamin back with us, our father will be extremely sad, and he will die of sorrow." (Genesis 44:34) Why?

A: Jacob had four wives. Of all his wives, he loved Rachel the most. Rachel died at a young age of 34. When she died, Jacob took it very hard and was heartbroken. Jacob had worked for Rachel's father for many years before he was permitted to marry Rachel. Jacob had two sons with Rachel, Joseph and Benjamin. When Joseph's brothers put him in a well and returned to Jacob with a bloodstained shirt saying that this was all that remained of Joseph, Jacob was beside himself with pain. He would not accept any consolation from people during his time of mourning. Jacob never recovered from the pain and sadness of losing his son, and he aged almost overnight. So now, because Joseph kept Benjamin as his hostage in Egypt and did not let him return home to his father with his brothers, Judah begged Joseph to release Benjamin. He tells Joseph that his father told him, "If Benjamin does not return, disaster will come to me and my sadness will carry me to my grave." (Genesis 44:29)

Q: The Bible states, "Joseph could not restrain himself" (Genesis 45:1). What does this mean?

A: The Ohr Hachayim explains that Joseph could no longer control his feelings. He could not hold on to his secret any longer. Joseph's emotions erupted like a volcano. He could no longer tolerate teh pain or hold back his tears; he could no longer keep up his charade.

Q: Joseph yelled, "Remove everybody from this room, only this group of Hebrews may remain" (Genesis 45:1). Why did Joseph command the Egyptians to leave the room?

A: Joseph did not want anyone to know how his brothers had treated him (Abarbanel). The righteous Joseph did not want anyone to know how his brothers sold him. According to Rashi, the Torah seemed to emphasize that Joseph removed everybody from the room not because he was ashamed of his brothers, but because he was careful not to humiliate them because of their past deeds.

Q: Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph. Is my father alive?" His brothers could not answer him because they were frightened, and they jumped away from him (Genesis 45:3). Why did Joseph ask if his father is still alive if he already knew the answer?

A: There are many views to this question. Among them are the Malbim sees this question as Joseph's strong rebuke to his brothers. Asking, "Is my father alive?" implying "How dare you let our father suffer for so many years? Where is your compassion? How dare you withhold the truth from him while I am alive!"

The Sforno says Joseph asks his brothers, "How do you explain that our father is still alive after so many years of struggling and suffering?"

The brothers interpreted Joseph's question as stern criticism. They were shicked and attempted to run away (Babylonian Talmud, Chagiga 2b).

The Torah T'mimah and Bet Halevy both suggested that this rebuke is directed at Judah, because it was Judah who was the one responsible for selling Joseph and showing Jacob the bloodstained shirt. Judah is the one responsible for Jacob's thirteen years of agony and sadness. It was Judah who had the audacity to ask Joseph to let Benjamin go back to his father! Joseph responds to Judah by saying, "Why do you ask me for compassion and mercy? Why? In all this time you have never thought about your father's broken heart, your father's suffering and anguish over the thought that I was dead."

Joseph's dialogue is more than a rebuke. His intention is to make the brothers feel guilty and repent for the wrongs that they have done (Chizkuni).

Joseph knew that his father was alive. His question was in regard to their father's mental faculties. Thus Joseph had touched upon a very sensitive subject. Jacob had very powerful prophetic abilities. He was concerned as to whether Jacob still had the same capabilities (Ramav).

Joseph asked, "Is my father still alive?" Joseph says my father to make the point, "I have behaved like a son, but not you". This rebuke frightens the brothers (Kli Yakar). By asking this question Joseph caused his brothers to become suspicious that he planned to take revenge when he said my father. According to the Ramav this is what frightened them.

Q: The Bible states, Joseph said to his brothers, "come to me." They came to him. Then Joseph said to them, "I am Joseph your brother whom you sold to Egypt" (Genesis 45:4). How did Joseph prove his identity to his brothers?

A: Joseph showed his brothers that he was circumcised (Rashi; Bereishit Rabba 8; Tanchuma 5).

Q: Joseph was very tactful in his approach to his brothers. What do we learn from this?

A: Joseph tried to calm his brothers by telling them that everything that happened for the best. G-d planned everything to help the family. Joseph and his brothers were only G-d's tools for fulfilling the dream (Revash; Sforno). Joseph reassured them that they would not be punished for selling him or be rebuked by their father (Abarbanel). Man has freedom of choice but sometimes G-d leads a person on a mission to fulfill a special goal (Sfat Emmet). Joseph viewed the events as being orchestrated by G-d and thanked his brothers for carrying out G-d's plans.

Q: Joseph sent his brothers back to their father. He said to them, "on your journey do not be upset with each other" (Genesis 45:24). What specific advice did Joseph give to his brothers?

A: Joseph wanted to prevent emotional pain to his brothers so he advised them not to discuss issues that would make them upset with each other (Rashi). Joseph wanted his brothers to have a good life. He told them: "Do not be so impatient to return home..." (Babylonian Talmud, Ta'anit 10b).

Joseph asked his brothers to promise him in advance that they would not discuss their having sold him on their journey home. Joseph wanted to avoid any conflict with his brothers (Unkelus; Yonatan ben Uziel). He did not want to create ill will among his brothers since he himself had experienced the negative consequences of sibling rivalry.

Joseph knew that his brothers lived by the commandments. As it is written, "You shall study the Bible, in your home, on the way, when you lie down and when you wake up" (Deuteronomy 6:7). One can study something lightly or in depth. Joseph suggested to his brothers that they discuss issues that would not bring them to dispute (Kli Yakor).

Joseph asked his brothers to practice moderation in their thoughts and actions. Always take a middle position, avoid the extremes (Ramchal).

Q: What do we learn about Joseph's character from the way in which he led his brothers to bring Jacob to Egypt?

A: Joseph sought to make peace with his brothers regardless of previous events. Joseph wanted to make sure that peace existed between the brothers, especially while traveling back to Jacob's house. Joseph also wanted to be certain that they would deliver the news to Jacob. Rashi and Unkelus interpret the verse "Do not fight on the way" to mean that the brothers must not argue about who was responsible for selling Joseph.

Other commentators translate Joseph's advice as "Do not worry on the way". Telling the brothers not to worry about the amount of food they were bringing back, which was more than an average person might take. Joseph knew that there was a possibility that the authorities might stop his brothers and may even arrest them for suspicion of theft. For that reason, Joseph placed his seal on the packages, which granted permission for the food to be transported (Ramban; Chizkuni; Rashbam).

Another explanation given the Ba'al Haturim says that Joseph gave his brothers extra food to feed their cattle so that they would not graze in fields that did not belong to them. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch explains that Joseph was trying to calm his brothers by saying, "Do not worry about the future; if you follow my direction you will be successful."

Other biblical commentators like Tosafot and Abarbanel explain that Joseph blessed his brothers because they were on a holy mission and the blessing would protect them from harm. Still other commentators interpret that Joseph was trying to urge his brothers not to procrastinate in their tasks -- that they should just go and do it. On the contrary, Rabbi Sa'adya Gaon said, "Do not rush. Everything is from G-d, everything in its time. Even if you run you may have to delay."

Q: What sign did Joseph give his brothers, to convince their father that he was still alive?

A: When Joseph left his father, they had been studying the complicated issue of slaughtering a calf. Now Joseph said to his brothers, "Tell father that I am still studying this issue, and I have come up with some answers about our discussion." Joseph sent a few calves with his brothers as further proof (Rashi, Bereishit Rabba 94:3, 95:3; Tanchuma 11).

Q: What is the source of the sages' ruling that one has to show more respect for one's father than to one's grandfather?

A: Because the verse (Genesis 46:1) says that when Jacob went to the city Be'er Sheva, he offered a sacrifice to the G-d of his father, Isaac (Rashi, Genesis 46:1).

Q: How do we know that Jacob did not want to leave the Holy Land, especially to go to a place like Egypt?

A: Jacob wanted to stay in the Holy Land forever. He forced himself to go to Egypt only because of his son Joseph. When he reached the border, he became frightened. He saw a prophecy that something bad would happen in Egypt, thus making him fear for his descendants both physically and spiritually. G-d therefore blessed Jacob and encouraged him not to be fearful regarding the trip to Egypt (Rashi, Genesis 46:3).

Q: Which of Jacob's granddaughters came to Egypt? How do we learn this?

A: Rashi says that it was Serach, daughter of Asher, and Yocheved, daughter of Levi. The sages also say that Serach sang to Jacob and informed him that Joseph was still alive. We learn this from the verse "his son and grandson with him. His daughters and granddaughters... Jacob brings to Egypt" (Rashi, Genesis 46:7).

Q: How many people went to Egypt?

A: Seventy.

Q: The Bible sates that on the way to his son Joseph in Egypt, Israel/Jacob "offered a sacrifice to the G-d of his father, Isaac." (Genesis 46:1). Why does the Bible say "to the G-d of his father, Isaac"?

A: There are two ways to worship G-d. Abraham worshipped by reaching the highest level of understanding in every detail of the Bible and fulfilling the intention of G-d's will. Isaac did it differently. His was a simple faith as seen by his own self sacrifice, by being bound to the altar at Mount Moriah without any question or investigation. Isaac accepted G-d's will without reservations whatsoever! Our forefather Jacob prays to the "G-d of his father Isaac" in order to show us which direction we must take in exile. If we look at Jewish history, we see that only those who live by simple and total faith survive (Berzen Gaon).

Q: Why did Jacob/Israel have to bring a sacrifice?

A: Jacob saw a prophetic vision that this trip was the beginning of the exile, which meant that his descendants would be servants to the other nations (Rambam). Therefore, he brought a sacrifice and prayed to G-d, hoping to spare his future generations any suffering.

Q: G-d spoke to Jacob in a night vision. Why did G-d come to him at night?

A: The darkness of night symbolizes the coming exile. The exile will be a spiritual darkness and there will be no more "daily connection" or "direct connection" with G-d (Ha'amek Davar). G-d never appeared to Abraham or Isaac at night; G-d wanted Jacob to understand that although he and his descendants were heading for a long, dark exile, G-d would be with them. As our sages said: "Every place that they went into exile, G-d was with them" (Babylonian Tlamud, Ma'ilah 29; Meshach Chachmah).

Q: Why did G-d call him Jacob, since earlier G-d had changed his name to Israel?

A: It would appear that the Almighty is reaching back to a time when He and Jacob were closer, when Jacob experienced "direct contact" with G-d.

Q: The Bible states, "G-d says to Jacob...do not be afraid of going to Egypt. I will make you a great nation...I will go down with you to Egypt and I will being you up again and Joseph shall put his hand upon your eyes" (Genesis 46:34). What does this mean?

A: Jacob was extremely fearful of the exile. G-d encouraged and reminded him that in the end, he would be a great nation. G-d told Jacob that as much as you suffered, your reward would be great (Chizkuni).

Abarbanel says that Jacob was afraid of leaving the Holy Land for four reasons. He thought that perhaps the Egyptians would kill him, his children, or his grandchildren. Since Egypt was a land full of idols and magicians who performed black magic, that perhaps he would lose his direct connection to G-d.

Jacob thought that he might die and be buried in Egypt, and his dream of burial in the Holy Land would not be fulfilled. Jacob thought that maybe Joseph would die before him, and thus their only protection in Egypt would be forfeit.

The Abarbanel therefore says the Almighty gave Jacob four promises. First, go to Egypt and I will make you a great nation there. Second, the Almighty told Jacob He would be with him all the time and in every place. Third, the Almighty told Jacob that He would see to it that his body would be brought back to the Holy Land for burial. Finally, G-d told Jacob that Joseph would take care of him.

Q: Why was Jacob so fearful of going down to Egypt?

A: The sages gave us a few explanation. They tell us that Jacob worried that his children would assimilate into the Egyptian culture. He believed that only in the Holy Land could his children exist as a nation. G-d promised him that they would become a nation and not assimilate with others. This is the reason why Joseph wanted a separate place, the city of Goshen (Ha'amek Davar).

The Ma'avam explains that G-d told Jacob not to worry because in the Holy Land he lived in peace with so many other nations, and his children would not assimilate. In Egypt, Egyptians would be so hostile to the Hebrews, "the Egyptian cannot eat bread with the Hebrew" (Genesis 43:32), that there is no way the Hebrews would be allowed to assimilate.

It is difficult to understand the last explanation because it is written that when the Children of Israel left Egypt, many non-Hebrews left with them (Exodus 12:38). It is likely that the Hebrews did not assimilate with the Egyptians at all. However, some Egyptians asked to convert in order to become part of the Hebrews and be allowed to marry with them.

Q: Twice it is written that Jacob blessed Pharaoh. What did Jacob say and why?

A: The first time, Jacob simply greeted Pharaoh. The second time, Jacob prayed that the river would always come to Pharaoh. We see that Egypt would have an abundance of water. As long as Pharaoh lived Egypt never suffered from a lack of water. Once he died, water became a valued commodity (Rashi; Tanchuma 47:10).

Q: Why did the Egyptians dislike shepherds?

A: Animals were as gods to the Egyptians (Genesis 46:34). So the thought of anyone working, or mishandling and animal was tantamount to sacrilege.

Q: Where was the first Jewish ghetto? Why was the ghetto established?

A: The first Jewish ghetto was Goshen. Historians say that the Hebrews created this ghetto to separate themselves from the Egyptians. They also did not want to offend the Egyptian culture that made gods of some animals. If the Israelites were seen working animals this might be offensive to the Egyptian populace. The Egyptians also did not adhere to the Noahite law which prohibited one from cutting the limb of a living animal and eating it.

Q: How did Joseph explain to his family's decision to live in the city of Goshen?

A: Joseph told his brothers to tell Pharaoh that they were shepherds. Although Goshen was far away, it was a special place that had excellent grazing land for animals (Genesis 46:34).

Shabbat Schedule for December 30-31, 2011/4-5 Tevet 5772

Candle lighting 4:35 PM

Kabbalat Shabbos 4:30 PM

Shacharit Shabbos 9:00 AM

Shabbos Mincha After kiddush

Shabbos ends 5:37 PM

Parsha of the Week:

Vayigash (Genesis 44:18 - 47:27; Haftorah Ezekiel 37:15-28)

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