Shabbat Shalom, everyone!
Parashat Vayigash, Genesis 44:18-47:27
The Torah: A Modern Commentary
W. Gunther Plaut, ed. pp. 281-297
CYCLE ONE
SUMMARY
This week's Torah portion, Vayigash, tells of Joseph's reconciliation with himself, his brothers, and his father. It raises timeless questions about the human potential to change.
"Vayigash aylav Yehudah...." (Genesis 44:18) And Judah drew near to Joseph to plead for his brother Benjamin's freedom. Judah volunteered to be taken as a slave in Benjamin's stead, so that his father Jacob would not 'lose' another son. [What a change from the brothers that threw Joseph into a pit and left him to die!] Hearing Judah's passionate concern for his father's feelings, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers. He told them not to feel guilty for having left him in the pit. It was God's plan that Joseph should end up in Egypt, where he could predict the famine, become Pharaoh's administrator, and save his own family from starvation. Joseph told his brothers to return to Jacob and bring the entire clan to Egypt where he will ensure their well-being for the remaining years of the famine.
Jacob was predictably overjoyed to hear that Joseph is alive and, after being assured by God of divine protection, goes to be reunited with his long lost son. The famine continues. When the Egyptians ran out of money with which to purchase bread, Joseph agrees to trade food for livestock. When the livestock was depleted, Joseph traded bread for land. In this way all the money, flocks, and land in Egypt came to be owned by Pharaoh. Joseph provided the Egyptian people with seeds to plant and decreed that one fifth of all that grows would belong to Pharaoh, while four-fifths remained the property of the one who cultivated the land.
COMMENTARY
When Judah approached Joseph, his willingness to be held in lieu of Benjamin demonstrated his capacity to change. In Hebrew, this is called 'teshuva'. We know we have changed when we face a situation we have faced before, when we made a mistake, and we make a different, better choice. Judah had actively participated in the abandonment of his brother Joseph. He did not offer to be thrown into the pit himself. This time though a different Judah faced the same situation. This changed Judah was prepared to sacrifice himself for his brother Benjamin and his father Jacob. is willing to give up his own freedom for the sake of his youngest brother and his father. Judah had done 'teshuva'. He had changed his behavior and he had grown in character.
TABLE TALK
- When the Torah first introduces Joseph, he is wearing a rainbow-colored coat and flaunting his personal dreams. In this portion, he is managing the welfare of an entire hungry nation and saving his family from starvation, both physical and spiritual. What has happened to cause Joseph to change? Think about a significant way in which you have changed. What external factors contributed to your change? What internal things inspired you?
- According to the Torah, it was only after Joseph hugged his brothers and cried, that his brother's were able to say even a word. How did Joseph's actions free them to speak? Why might the brothers have been silent after Joseph told them who he was?
- Jewish law and lore regards a person who had effected teshuva, who has demonstrated the courage to change behavior, as greater than someone who has not had to make that change. What do you think? Why?
- Jacob is overwhelmed to hear that Joseph is alive yet he does not go to Egypt without talking with God. After God assures Jacob that God will travel with him and his family, Jacob agrees to the move. Why is the presence of God so important to Jacob? How have you experienced the presence of God?
- Approaching someone when you have an important request (as Judah did) or a significant piece of information to share (as Joseph had) can be frightening. Think about a time when you have been in a situation like Joseph or Judah. What did you do? What would you do if you had the chance to do it over again?
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