Family Restoration Johanan Flusser I wish to dedicate this dvar torah in memory of my mother, Chana Flusser who passed away on the eighth day of Hanukkah 5773 having lit the eighth candle the previous evening The story of Joseph and his brothers includes two statements made by Joseph that constitute a powerful description of his relationship with his brothers. In the first statement, "I am looking for my brothers", Joseph expresses a longing and a strong desire to find his brothers in all respects. This statement received deep meaning and resonance in the actions taken on behalf...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Vayigash And the lord said to israel in a night vision And he said: yaakov yaakov And he said: here i am. (Bereishit 46b) Yaakov Yaakov – The name appears twice, because a number of years had passed without the spirit of prophecy resting upon him, and therefore He addressed him twice so that he should know that it is the spirit of prophecy which is summoning him. (RaDaK, ibid., ibid) And He said Yaakov...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Vayigash And joseph said to his brothers: i am joseph. Is my father still alive? But his brothers could not answer himm, For they were confounded in his presence. (Bereishit 45:3) On the 18th anniversary of her passing, this issue is dedicated to the dear memory of Marcia Kretzmer. Torah study was her source of inspiration for "the Torah of loving-kindness which was upon her tongue", finding expression in her actions and in her creations. ...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Vayigash And they told him all of Joseph's words that he had said to them, and he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, and the spirit of their father Jacob was revived. (Bereishit 45:27) all of Joseph’s words: He (Joseph) gave them a sign, viz., in what topic he was engaged when he (Joseph) separated from him (Jacob). the section dealing with the heifer ...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Vayigash And if it comes to pass that Pharaoh calls you and asks, 'What is your occupation?' You shall say, 'Your servants have been owners of livestock from our youth until now, both we and our ancestors,' so that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, because all shepherds are abhorrent to the Egyptians." (Bereishit 46:33-34) because all shepherds are abhorrent to the Egyptians – This is a sign that the Egyptians did not eat...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Vayigash AND JOSEPH SAID TO HIS BROTHERS, "I AM JOSEPH. IS MY FATHER STILL ALIVE?"… HASTEN AND GO UP TO MY FATHER, AND SAY TO HIM, 'SO SAID YOUR SON, JOSEPH: "GOD HAS MADE ME A LORD OVER ALL THE EGYPTIANS. COME DOWN TO ME, DO NOT TARRY. AND YOU SHALL DWELL IN THE LAND OF GOSHEN… AND I WILL SUSTAIN YOU THERE FOR THERE ARE STILL FIVE YEARS OF FAMINE LEST YOU BECOME IMPOVERISHED,...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Vayigash ALL THE SOULS COMING TO EGYPT WITH JACOB, THOSE DESCENDED FROM HIM, EXCLUDING THE WIVES OF JACOB'S SONS, ALL THE SOULS WERE SIXTY SIX. AND JOSEPH'S SONS, WHO WERE BORN TO HIM IN EGYPT, TWO SOULS; ALL THE SOULS OF THE HOUSE OF JACOB WHO CAME TO EGYPT WERE SEVENTY. (Bereishit 46:26-7) Abba Halifa Keruya asked R. Hiyyz bar Abba: The sum you find is seventy, but individuals you find...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Vayigash JOSEPH COULD NO LONGER CONTROL HIMSELF BEFORE ALL HIS ATTENDANTS, AND HE CRIED OUT, "HAVE EVERYONE WITHDRAW FROM ME!" SO THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE ABOUT WHEN JOSEPH MADE HIMSELF KNOWN TO HIS BROTHERS. (Bereishit 45:1-2) Joseph could no longer control himself – Loss of Control? Consideration for his Brothers and Father? Joseph could no longer control himself – he could no longer make the effort to remain unrecognized by them, as he...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Vayigash JOSEPH ORDERED HIS CHARIOT AND WENT TO GOSHEN TO MEET HIS FATHER ISRAEL; HE PRESENTED HIMSELF TO HIM AND, EMBRACING HIM AROUND THE NECK, HE WEPT ON HIS NECK A GOOD WHILE. THEN ISRAEL SAID TO JOSEPH, "NOW I CAN DIE, HAVING SEEN FOR MYSELF THAT YOU ARE STILL ALIVE." (Bereishit 46:29-30) Joseph wept, Jacob did not weep. Joseph could still weep, Jacob was finished with weeping, he had wept enough in...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parashat Vayigash AND THEY TOOK ALONG THEIR LIVESTOCK AND THE WEALTH THAT THEY HAD AMASSED IN THE LAND OF CANAAN. THUS JACOB AND ALL HIS OFFSPRING WITH HIM CAME TO EGYPT (Bereishit 46: 6) That They Had Amassed in the Land of Canaan – but everything they had amassed in Padan Aram was given to Esau in exchange for his share of the Me'arat Ha'Machpeila. I am the One who told your father Do not...