Weekly Shabbat Parsha Thoughts – Vayechi – 12.17.2010

Vayechi – 12.17.2010

With this week portion - you hear the final words and blessing of the sons from Jacob. He reviewed characteristics, so there are two things I wanted to bring up as thoughts:

First, there are many different traits – positive and negative – that leads us to see that there are many different ways to be successful, to be Jewish, to practice our Judaism and daily lives. The blessing and comments were cryptic – leaving much to interpretation (for example “tenacity of a serpent”). These two factors (the variety of traits and the cryptic nature of the true meaning) shows us there are many ways to be Jewish and none of us – none of us – can know exactly what is right or what is meant with certainty. Whether it is through family, study, business, or philanthropy we have multiple ways that we can (and must) act out our Jewish character.

Second, as we go around our world, we need to look at models and how we operate. We must look at what we do and assume, and ask ourselves “is this because it must be this way or because it has been this way?” The cryptic and prophetic nature of Jacob’s words allow us to feel a sense of control (through interpretation) but also a sense of pre-determination, or lack of options, as well. We must make sure that we challenge our assumptions on how we act and are Jewish. Why do we do things? Is there value in it? Are we keeping a ritual as a reminder of heritage or simply because we always have? Which of any of these is right?

In our world there are many assumed constraints that we never think about:

- Our summer vacation was created so the children could help with the crops during harvest time – do we still need to be limited by that now?

- The 9 to 5 workday was created to support worker driven assembly line mass production – should it still be the primary time construct of our days today?

- In Judaism – proselytizing was very regular until the church gained enough political power to shut it down under threat of death. It was a survival decision as much as anything – what does that mean for our view of reaching out to others to become Jewish today?

We need to recognize all the possibilities that we can be and not limit ourselves by assuming unrealistic constraints.

Jacob’s final words contain both the power of potential, and warning about the power of constraints. I want to think of both of those things as we think about this week’s portion; both the positives that Jacob gave his kids, but also the potential constraints.

We need to recognize them in ourselves and in the world around us, so that we can develop our own part of perfecting the world aware of the direction, potential and real limits and boundaries that we must approach to succeed.

Shabbat Shalom

General Overview: This week's Torah reading, Vayechi, discussesJacob's final years. Shortly before his passing, Jacob blesses Joseph's children as well as his own. A massive funeral procession escorts Jacob's body to Canaan. The reading, and the Book of Genesis, concludes with Joseph's death.

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First Aliyah: Jacob lived his last seventeen years in Egypt. When Jacob sensed that his days were numbered he summoned Joseph and asked him to promise that he would bury him in Israel. Joseph acceded to the request. When Jacob then fell ill, Joseph visited him, accompanied by his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Jacob conferred upon Ephraim and Manasseh the status of tribal progenitors, a status hitherto enjoyed only by Jacob's sons. Joseph asked his father to bless Ephraim and Manasseh.

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Second Aliyah: Joseph presents his two sons, placing Manasseh, the firstborn, to Jacob's right, and Ephraim to Jacob's left. Jacob, who was nearly blind at this point, crossed his hands, placing his right – more prestigious – hand on Ephraim's head. He blessed them: "May the angel who redeemed me from all harm bless the youths, and may they be called by my name and the name of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, and may they multiply abundantly like fish, in the midst of the land."

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Third Aliyah: Joseph was disturbed that Jacob placed his right hand on Ephraim, and he attempted to adjust his father's hands. "I know, my son, I know," Jacob responded, explaining that the "younger brother will be greater, and his children['s fame] will fill the nations." Jacob blessed the two boys further, saying that all of Israel will bless each other by saying: "May G‑d make you like Ephraim and Manasseh."

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Fourth Aliyah: Jacob summoned all his sons, and delivered to each a poetic, and sometimes cryptic, parting personal message. Reuben was chastised for his impetuousness and for "ascending upon his father's bed."Shimon and Levi were rebuked for their anger, which expressed itself in the killing of the Shechemites and the attempted execution of Joseph.Judah was blessed with monarchy, success in waging battle, and an abundance of wine and milk in his portion. Zebulon was blessed with success in his sea-trade endeavors. Jacob likened Issachar to a thick-boned donkey who finds both rest and ample work. Dan was blessed with the tenacity of a serpent and the ability to judge.

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Fifth Aliyah: Gad was blessed with bravery in battle. Asher's blessing: an abundance of olive oil. Naphtali was blessed with the speed of a deer. Joseph was recognized for his charm, suffering, and righteousness, and was showered with a variety of blessings.

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Sixth Aliyah: Benjamin was likened to a devouring wolf. Jacob then repeated his request to be buried in Israel, in the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron, and he passed away at the age of 147. After an extended national mourning period, Joseph received Pharaoh's permission to carry Jacob's body up to Israel. A huge funeral procession consisting of all the elders of Egypt as well as Jacob's family went and buried Jacob. After returning to Egypt, Joseph's brothers feared that now, after Jacob had passed away, Joseph would exact revenge from them for selling him into slavery. Joseph reassured them that he harbored no ill feelings towards them.

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Seventh Aliyah: Joseph lived until the age of 110. Before passing away he told his brothers that G‑d would eventually take them out of Egypt and return them to the Promised Land. Joseph asked his brothers to promise that when that time arrived they would carry his remains with them, and inter him in Israel.

Weekly Shabbat Message - Miketz - 12.3.2010

In this week’s parsha Joseph becomes the viceroy of Egypt. He becomes a powerful and effective leader in a powerful empire. He does all of this while living up to the covenant. Unlike his brothers and ancestors Joseph had to do this in the midst of a secular empire.

His success and behavior lends us an amazing example of what the Rabbi’s call being “Jewish in the marketplace.” Our calling is to be Jewish in the real world. Joseph’s story is an amazing example of this. It is also the first real example of this - It is why Joseph is known as “Yosef HaTzadeek” (Joseph the Righteous).

In our Torah our ancestors are given many names, Abraham our father, Moses our Teacher, and Jacob becomes Israel (or wrestles with god). But I think it is inspiring and telling that the person who is called a Tzadeek, or righteous, is the one who had to live up to the covenant in the real world of being a leader and executive of Egypt. Our commitment to the covenant and hashem is ours no matter where we are and what we do.

If it can work for the viceroy of Egypt for Joseph– think about what we in our worlds can do living up to the same example!

Shabbat Shalom

General Overview: Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams, becomes viceroy over Egypt, and implements his plan to save the region from famine. Joseph is harsh with his brothers who come to Egypt to buy food, and demands that Benjamin be brought to Egypt. When Benjamin eventually comes he is framed and accused of theft.

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First Aliyah: Pharaoh had a dream: seven fat cows arose from the Nile, followed by seven emaciated cows. The gaunt cows then consumed the robust ones. He then had a second dream, wherein seven healthy ears of grain were eaten by seven thin and parched ears. In the morning, none of Pharaoh's wise men were capable of interpreting the dreams to Pharaoh's satisfaction. Pharaoh's butler approached and related his past jailhouse experience, when a Hebrew boy, Joseph, successfully interpreted dreams. Pharaoh ordered Joseph's release, and he appeared before the king.

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Second Aliyah: Pharaoh recounted his dreams to Joseph. Joseph told Pharaoh that both dreams contained a singular message: seven years of plenty were destined to come upon Egypt, followed by seven years of severe famine. Joseph proposed a plan to store the excess grain of the years of plenty, to serve as a reserve for the famine years to follow. Pharaoh was greatly impressed by Joseph's wisdom.

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Third Aliyah: Pharaoh appointed Joseph as viceroy of Egypt, and placed him in charge of the impending food collection operation. Thirty-year-old Joseph was placed second-in command of the Egyptian empire, accountable to no one but Pharaoh himself. Indeed, the seven years of plenty arrived as foretold by Joseph, and Joseph skillfully oversaw the collection of the surplus grain. Joseph married Osnat, the daughter of Poti-phera, and she bore him two sons: Manasseh and Ephraim.

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Fourth Aliyah: Then the famine predicted by Joseph commenced, a grave famine that affected Egypt and the entire Mediterranean region. Exactly as planned, Joseph had sufficient stores of food, which he personally sold to all who needed. Meanwhile, in nearby Canaan, Joseph's father, Jacob, dispatched his eldest ten sons – all of them excepting Benjamin – to Egypt to purchase food provisions. The brothers arrived and stood before Joseph, but did not recognize him, as his boyish appearance had changed in the interim years. When the brothers broached their request to purchase food, Joseph dealt with them harshly, accused them of espionage, and incarcerated them all for three days.

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Fifth Aliyah: On the third day, Joseph released them all, aside for Simon, whom he held hostage. He bid the rest of the brothers to return to Canaan and return with their youngest brother, Benjamin, and thus establish their innocence. The brothers recognized that this was punishment for the sale of Joseph, and expressed regret for their deed. Joseph instructed his servants to place the monies the brothers had paid for the food in the sacks of grain they were given. The brothers arrived back in Canaan and recounted the entire episode to Jacob. Jacob was highly disturbed by the happenings, and initially refused to send Benjamin, unwilling to consider the possibility of losing Rachel's only remaining son. Eventually, though, after the food provisions ran low, and Judah personally guaranteed Benjamin's safe return, Jacob acceded to send him. He sent them to Egypt with a prayer on his lips, and armed with a gift for the Egyptian ruler.

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Sixth Aliyah: The brothers arrived in Egypt. Joseph instructed his palace supervisor to invite the brothers to join him for the afternoon repast. The brothers arrived at Joseph's residence where they were reunited with Simon. Joseph arrived, and the brothers presented him with the gift they had prepared, and they exchanged pleasantries.

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Seventh Aliyah: Upon seeing his brother Benjamin, Joseph was overcome with emotion, which he concealed. The brothers sat down and enjoyed a feast, and Joseph presented them all with gifts—Benjamin's gift greater than all the others'. In the morning the brothers departed, but not before Joseph had his royal goblet planted in Benjamin's sack of food. Joseph then dispatched a posse to confront the brothers and "uncover" the planted goblet. The brothers were all brought back to Joseph, who demanded that the "thief," Benjamin alone, remain behind as his slave.