THE TORAH READING FOR 11 TEVET 5781 December 25-26, 2020
From PROVERBS JPS Hebrew-English TANAKH 1999 translation
One [person] gives generously and ends with more;
Another stints on doing the right thing and incurs a loss.
A generous person enjoys prosperity;
[the one] who satisfies others shall [themselves] be sated.
Prov. 11:24-25
MEDITATION
From “Mishkan T’filah / A Reform Siddur” p.516
FOR OUR COUNTRY
THUS SAYS ADONAI, This is what I desire: to unlock the fetters of wickedness, and untie the cords of lawlessness; to let the oppressed go free, to break off every yoke. Share your bread with the hungry, and take the wretched poor into your home. When you see the naked, give clothing, and do not ignore your own kin.
O GUARDIAN of life and liberty, may our nation always merit Your protection. Teach us to give thanks for what we have by sharing it with those who are in need. Keep our eyes open to the wonders of creation, and alert to the care of the earth. May we never be lazy in the work of peace; may we honor those who have [served, suffered or] died in defense of our ideals. Grant our leaders wisdom and forbearance. May they govern with justice and compassion. Help us all to appreciate one another, and to respect the many ways that we may serve You. May our homes be safe from affliction and strife, and our country be sound in body and spirit. Amen.
ְPARSHA
From ReformJudaism.org https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/vayigash
Vayigash (וַיִּגַּשׁ — Hebrew for “And [Judah] Approached [Joseph]”) – Gen. 44:18-47:27
Judah now approached him and said, “By your leave, my lord, please give your servant a hearing, and do not let your anger flare up at your servant–for you are like Pharaoh”. – Genesis 48:18
SUMMARY:
- Judah pleads with Joseph to free Benjamin and offers himself as a replacement. (44:18-34)
- Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and forgives them for selling him into slavery. (45:1-15)
- Although the famine still rages, Pharaoh invites Joseph’s family to “live off the fat of the land.” (45:16-24)
- Jacob learns that Joseph is still alive and, with God’s blessing, goes to Egypt. (45:25-46:33)
- Pharaoh permits Joseph’s family to settle in Goshen. Pharaoh then meets with Jacob. (47:1-12)
- With the famine increasing, Joseph designs a plan for the Egyptians to trade their livestock and land for food. The Israelites thrive in Egypt. (47:13-27)
HAFTARAH
Ezekiel 37:15-28
From Wikipedia.org https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vayigash
The parashah and the haftarah both tell stories of the reconciliation of Jacob’s progeny … [and] of the relationship of Judah and Joseph, in the parashah as individuals, and in the haftarah as representatives for the Kingdom of Judah and the Kingdom of Israel.
STRUGGLING WITH TORAH
From Wikipedia.org https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vayigash
Vayigash (וַיִּגַּשׁ — Hebrew for “and he drew near” or “then he drew near”) – Gen. 44:18-47:27
“In the [complete] parashah, Judah pleads on behalf of his brother Benjamin [who has been accused of stealing Joseph’s cup], Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, Jacob comes down to Egypt, and Joseph’s administration of Egypt saves lives but transforms all the Egyptians into bondmen.”
The triennial part of Vayigash, Genesis 45:28-46:27, contains the tale of Jacob deciding to go see Joseph before he dies and journeying to Beersheba to offer sacrifices to God. God speaks to Jacob in a dream about going to Egypt without fear and God making of him a great nation there. Jacob’s sons take him, all their family and goods to Egypt in wagons provided by Pharaoh.
In Modern Interpretation
[The Protestant theologian Walter Brueggemann, William Marcellus McPheeters Professor Emeritus of Old Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary (2003-present)] wrote that the Joseph story’s theme concerns God’s hidden and decisive power, which works in, through, and sometimes against human power. Calling this either providence or predestination, Brueggemann argued that God thus worked out God’s purpose through and in spite of Egypt, and through and in spite of Joseph and his brothers.
REFLECTION
From ReformJudaism.org https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/vayigash
The story of Joseph is familiar to many who have never opened the Tanach. Tanach תנ”ך Acronym for the Hebrew Bible, constructed from the first letters of its three sections: Torah, Neviim, and Ketuvim. It has been written and rewritten; set to music and presented on screens. However, a very moving scene found in this week’s Torah portion, Parashat Vayigash, is rarely included in these adaptations[: When Joseph finally is reunited with his father Jacob in Egypt, he introduces Jacob to Pharaoh.]
As Rabbi Emeritus Steven Chester pointed out during the online Temple Sinai Torah Study this last Shabbat, the Joseph story is the longest in Torah. The Joseph story and Chanukah always coincide. In both cases, we have stories about the conflict between assimilation and maintaining ones beliefs and practices.
At this week’s online Temple Sinai Tuesday Morning Minyan, the Darshan (דַּרְשָׁן or דַּרְשָׁנִית – Hebrew for “deliverer of the d’rash”) spoke about, among other things, the ways in which Joseph had assimilated rendering him unrecognizable to his brothers. It probably never occurred to them by his dress, hairstyle, etc. and stature as an Egyptian official that he was the brother they sold into slavery and was dead for all they knew.
Assimilation is an ongoing dynamic in Judaism. There are those who believe that Jews must dress, speak and pray in specific ways in order to be truly and fully Jewish. In truth the history of Judaism is filled with many ways of being truly and fully Jewish.
Throughout the centuries Jews have adopted and adapted aspects and customs from the cultures in which they found themselves, e.g., Ladino and Yiddish, bimuelos and latkes, adafina and cholent, Arabic garb and Polish 18th Century nobility costumes, etc. On the other hand, Jews have influenced their host countries as well. For instance, here in the United States it is common to hear non-Jews use Yiddish words and expressions in their everyday speech.
When I first became more actively involved in Reform Judaism, the Rabbi at my temple in the Bay Area said that there are three kinds of Jews: Those who are born Jewish. Those who convert to Judaism. And those who believe they are Jewish – while referring to Conversos (forced converts to Christianity) it also applies to those who join and throw in their lot with the Jewish people.
Our belief as Jews is summed up in the Sh’ma, “Hear, O Israel, the Eternal is our God, the Eternal is One”. Whether one is a Jew by birth, by choice or by belief, this is what makes us distinct. Assimilation becomes negative when we let go of this basic belief.
PRAYERS
We recite MI SHEBËRACH for the victims of brutality, abuse, fear, natural disasters, pandemics, violence, and war; for all those at home alone; for all those in need of physical, emotional, and mental healing. “R’fuah sh’lëmah” – a complete recovery!
We say KADDISH YATOM for those of our friends and families who have died and been buried this last week; those in the period of Sh’loshim (30 days since burial); those who have died in the last year; and those whose Yahrzeits/Anyos occur at this time; as well as the victims of brutality, disease, COVID-19, natural disasters, war and violence. We remember, too, those victims of the Shoah (Holocaust) who died at this time of year and have us to say “Kaddish” for them. “Zichronam liv’rachah” – May their memories be for blessing.
TORAH STUDY AND SHAZOOM
We will meet as usual at the regular times for Torah Study and Shazoom this evening, Friday, December 25, 2020. We will also meet next Friday, January 1, 2021.
Zoom continues updating its security and performance features. Making sure you have the latest version of Zoom, please join us online this evening:
Topic: Torah Study – Vayigash (triennial part) Gen 45:28-46:27
Time: Dec 25, 2020 06:00 PM Arizona
and/or
Shazoom – Erev Shabbat Service
Time: Dec 25, 2020 07:30 PM Arizona
To join the Torah Study and/or Shazoom click on the following link [you may need to copy it into your browser]: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/72510500854?pwd=Z3VQZWF4U1BBZytNYmh3aHFTWkFDZz09
Meeting ID: 725 1050 0854
Passcode: 4NrMk0
Hint: The last character of the password is the number zero.
Shabbat Shalom – Buen Shabbat!
-Ruben