Genesis 44:18–47:27
Parshat Vayigash
Judah steps forward to plead for Benjamin and offers himself as a slave in his place. Joseph can no longer hold back and reveals himself, “I am Joseph; is my father still alive?”, and sends for Jacob. Jacob and his family, seventy souls, go down to Egypt and settle in Goshen, while Joseph guides Egypt through the famine.
Essays
Parsha Vayigash – Child’s Play? Our task as Jews is to be a “light unto the nations,” to preserve and regenerate the purity and holiness that existed before people began to soil and despoil the world. There is no time where this mission can be realized as much as it can during Chanukah, where light is not just a metaphor, but a ta Parsha Vayigash – Distress but No Fear There is no reason to fear exile, because G-d gives us all the resources we need to cope with it and to prevail over all the obstacles life in exile poses The exile experience was even instrumental in our development as the great and holy nation we are. On the other hand, we should never make peace Parsha Vayigash – Double Power When Shabbos ends we recite Havdalah to acknowledge the separation between Shabbos and weekdays. The goal of Havdalah is to provide us with a way station, a moment of repose during the transition from Shabbos into the weekdays. Those precious moments connect Shabbos to the weekdays. It can be daunti Parsha Vayigash – Bar Mitzvah Beyond Forty! Chassidic Masters taught us that Joseph and Judah, in addition to being real historical figures, allegorically represent the two worlds of action and study. Joseph is study and Judah is action. When the Torah says that “Judah approached Joseph,” it teaches us the need for us to fuse action with know Parsha Vayigash – “I Am Joseph; Is My Father Still Alive,” Synthesis Joseph had managed to successfully synthesize the modern world (Joseph) with the tradition (“my father”). He also realized that he was capable of losing that connection. In order not to risk that synthesis unraveling, Joseph immediately asks for his father's coming to Egypt. Parsha Vayigash – Five Garments of the Future Because of Judah’s unique quality, Jacob sends him ahead of all the others to Goshen. Judah was to serve as a bulwark for the Jewish people enabling them to withstand the pressures of assimilation. Judah was not only guaranteeing their survival and prosperity in Egypt, but was also sowing the seeds Parsha Vayigash – It’s Time to Make Havdalah Havdalah is an affirmation of the importance of the Shabbos. It is also the recognition that we must appreciate the need for separation and division in our lives. During Shabbos, we are uplifted and do not need to be reminded of the boundaries between the holy and the profane that must be respected. Parsha Vayigash – Learning on the Way When we travel into Galus, it is imperative that we do not cease Torah study. Torah empowers us to overcome the darkness of exile. Indeed, our Sages state: “There is no free person other than one who is engaged in Torah study.” One of Moshiach’s qualifications is: “he will meditate on Torah.” Notwit Parsha Vayigash – One Father Ten Children Notwithstanding all the positive changes in the world, G-d’s presence is still eclipsed. G-d’s Temple has still not been rebuilt, which implies that G-d has not yet found a “home” in our world. G-d, our Father, is still suffering in exile, even as we are prospering materially and even spiritually. O Parsha Vayigash – Surviving Is Not Enough A Jew is a survivor. For a Jew it does not suffice to be just as survivor; a Jew must become an “opportunist” in the most positive sense of the word. A Jew must harness the exile conditions to serve as a catalyst for greater growth. Parsha Vayigash – Sitting in the Driver’s Seat The path to Redemption includes our mastery over all aspects of Egypt (read: exile, environment, dominant culture, fads). Rather than allowing it to influence the way we think and act, we harness the “wagons,” the vehicles that move us from one place to another in our lives, to follow in our directi Parsha Vayigash – Old Wine for Old Men The Messianic Age will not be a throwback to ancient times. On the contrary, we will experience the greatest advances and strides in science and medicine. But the spirit will be one that is timeless. At that time we will be reunited with our ancestors and we will all be delighted. Our forebears will Parsha Vayigash – No More Mediation The entire contentious relationship between Joseph and his brothers foretold deep divisions within the Jewish people. From the split of Israel into two kingdoms after King Solomon’s passing, to the many conflicts that have sadly punctuated Jewish life throughout history, division has become a staple Parsha Vayigash – The Joys of Monotheism When we realize that we have one G-d who is our Creator and Provider, we feel a kinship that makes us feel that we are part of one family. And even though family members often feud and can be just as fractious as total strangers, there is obviously a natural propensity to feel connected to a close r Parsha Vayigash – The Joseph and Judah Mindset Jacob knew the challenge that lie ahead for the Jewish people in the land of Egypt. To insure that the Jewish people would withstand the pressures of Egyptian life he needed to send someone who exhibited the power to confront royalty; the forces that were in control of the exile. It was Judah’s atti Parsha Vayigash – The Royal Yeshivah Torah is the “blueprint of creation” and has the power to affect the natural order of the world Any contradiction we find between Torah and our lives is not real. And any appearance of a conflict is a mirage. Torah is what dictates reality. Parsha Vayigash – The Shema Reunion We are presently living in an era that the prophets referred to as the "end of days." The process that began with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his twelve sons, under the supervision of Joseph, is coming to an end. We are now on the threshold of the Messianic Age when not only Jacob, but all of his twel Parsha Vayigash – Traveling Tips When we are home or when we reach our destination we are not as vulnerable as we can be when we travel. Many of the problems the Jewish people encountered occurred especially when they were on the road. Amalek, Israel’s most implacable foe, the Torah stresses, attacked us “on the way.” We experience Parsha Vayigash – True Leadership 1 The Torah’s approach is that a human is essentially an intellectual being who has the capacity to control his/her emotions. When we exercise this human prerogative we are referred to as kings. The Hebrew word for king—Melech—is actually an acronym for: moach-brain lev-heart and kaved-liver. To the e Parsha Vayigash – True Leadership Ii Throughout Jewish history, true Jewish leaders, followed in Judah’s footsteps and were prepared to give everything they possessed, both physical and spiritual, in the interests of every Jew. Parsha Vayigash – What Makes Us Human? The mode of speech that distinguishes us from other creatures’ communication is the form of speech that has the capacity to reveal our inner being; our very soul. This mode of speech is what makes us eminently human. And the ultimate expression of the human capacity for genuine and unmitigated self- Parsha Vayigash – When to Weep Moshiach is not just about restoring the world to its original state; it goes beyond that. Moshiach will introduce a dimension of G-dliness that transcends the order of creation; even the state of affairs that existed in Gan-Eden-the Garden of Eden.