Parshas Vayeshev
This is in the merit of my grandmother Esther bat Mazal. May she have a speedy and complete recovery.
A note: Comments within double brackets, [[abc]], are notes I write for myself so that when I look back later on the topics I discussed, I see all the sources I looked at and how I understood them. Readers are encouraged to skip them.
Question:
"The Medanites sold [Joseph] in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's officers, captain of the guard" (Genesis 37:36)
"Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's Egyptian officers, the captain of the guard, had purchased him from the Arabs who had brought him there" (Genesis 39:1)
Who sold Joseph to Potiphar?
Acting Effectively
When Joseph's brothers saw him approaching, they thought of ways to kill him.
"Reuben tried to reason with his brothers. 'Don't commit bloodshed. You can throw him into this well in the desert, and you won't have to lay a hand on him.' His plan was to rescue [Joseph] from [his brothers] and bring him back to his father
When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of the long colorful coat that he was wearing. They took him and threw him into the well. The well was empty; there was no water in it. The [brothers] sat down and ate a meal. When they looked up, they saw an Arab caravan coming from Gilead. The camels were carrying gum, balsam, and resin, transporting them to Egypt.
Judah said to his brothers, 'What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover his blood ? Let's sell him to the Arabs and not harm him with our own hands. After all, he's our brother, our own flesh and blood.' His brothers agreed" (Genesis 37:22-27).
Both Reuben and Judah successfully convinced their brothers but regarding Judah , the Torah goes out of its way and tells us that the brothers agreed which Rashi takes to mean that it was a full agreement. By implication, when they agreed to Reuben, it was not so wholehearted. Why the difference?
R. Francis Nataf, in his new book Redeeming Relevance (page 104), says the difference is that Judah waited until the brothers had eaten a meal and calmed down in the meantime.
While Judah should have told his brothers to let Joseph free (Rashi on Genesis 38:1), we can learn the lesson that effective leadership requires acting at the right moment.
[[If we say the brothers did not sell Joseph, then the Torah saying that they agreed to Judah is not redundant.]]
Food for thought and discussion:
How is this idea related to Chanukah?
Have a good Shabbas and happy Chaunkah,
Mordechai
This is in the merit of my grandmother Esther bat Mazal. May she have a speedy and complete recovery.
A note: Comments within double brackets, [[abc]], are notes I write for myself so that when I look back later on the topics I discussed, I see all the sources I looked at and how I understood them. Readers are encouraged to skip them.
Question:
"The Medanites sold [Joseph] in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's officers, captain of the guard" (Genesis 37:36)
"Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's Egyptian officers, the captain of the guard, had purchased him from the Arabs who had brought him there" (Genesis 39:1)
Who sold Joseph to Potiphar?
Acting Effectively
When Joseph's brothers saw him approaching, they thought of ways to kill him.
"Reuben tried to reason with his brothers. 'Don't commit bloodshed. You can throw him into this well in the desert, and you won't have to lay a hand on him.' His plan was to rescue [Joseph] from [his brothers] and bring him back to his father
When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of the long colorful coat that he was wearing. They took him and threw him into the well. The well was empty; there was no water in it. The [brothers] sat down and ate a meal. When they looked up, they saw an Arab caravan coming from Gilead. The camels were carrying gum, balsam, and resin, transporting them to Egypt.
Judah said to his brothers, 'What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover his blood ? Let's sell him to the Arabs and not harm him with our own hands. After all, he's our brother, our own flesh and blood.' His brothers agreed" (Genesis 37:22-27).
Both Reuben and Judah successfully convinced their brothers but regarding Judah , the Torah goes out of its way and tells us that the brothers agreed which Rashi takes to mean that it was a full agreement. By implication, when they agreed to Reuben, it was not so wholehearted. Why the difference?
R. Francis Nataf, in his new book Redeeming Relevance (page 104), says the difference is that Judah waited until the brothers had eaten a meal and calmed down in the meantime.
While Judah should have told his brothers to let Joseph free (Rashi on Genesis 38:1), we can learn the lesson that effective leadership requires acting at the right moment.
[[If we say the brothers did not sell Joseph, then the Torah saying that they agreed to Judah is not redundant.]]
Food for thought and discussion:
How is this idea related to Chanukah?
Have a good Shabbas and happy Chaunkah,
Mordechai
posted by Mordechai18 at 1:18 AM
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