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Parsha Page
Torah, Genesis 42:14-38 But Joseph said to them, “It is just as I have told you: You are spies! By this you shall be put to the test: unless your younger brother comes here, by Pharaoh, you shall not depart from this place!”
Thus begins a series of tests designed to bring his brothers to true t’shuva
(repentance.) Yoseph will also force them to bring Binyamin back with them, for
he remembered the earlier dreams he had where all eleven brothers bowed down to
him. This will also force Ya’akov to release the only other “son of his old
age.” All ten brothers are held for three days, then Yoseph allows Shim’on
(Simeon) to remain as hostage, and the others are released to return to Kena’an
with their provisions to relieve the famine amongst their households. The brothers recognize that this is their punishment for mistreating Yoseph – and during their discussions Yoseph realized that they were beginning to change. They are commanded not to return unless their youngest brother is with them. During the return trip, they discover that the money they paid for the food had been put back into their packs, and they are very afraid. Even though the brothers tell him that if they will bring Binyamin back to Egypt with them they will be able to buy grain and move about the land freely, the chapter ends with Yakov refusing to let Binyamin travel to Egypt. Although Reuven puts his sons lives as guarantee that he will bring Binyamin’s back safely, Ya’akov still refuses.
Qeriath, Isaiah 51:1-11
Yesha’Yahu encourages the
people of Isra’el to believe that Adonai can and will hearken to their pleas,
and deliver them once again from their seemingly hopeless condition. They are to
look back to their humble beginnings from Abraham and Sarah, and to the future,
knowing that Adonai is eternal. The taunts and insults of men will pass away,
but His salvation will endure forever. The reading finishes with the prayer of the people to Adonai as they first
remember some of the mighty acts of power that He performed on their behalf in
the past. They then entreat Him to bring them back to
Da'ath, Romans 12:9-21
Rav Shaul is exhorting us to
love each other purely, without hypocrisy, putting others as more important than
ourselves. We are not to repay evil for evil, to live at peace with one another,
and leave vengeance for the Lord. We are to treat our enemies with love, doing
good for them, in this way we can overcome evil with good.
Igarath, James 3:1-12 In our Igarath reading, we see a practical example of holiness in our lives. Ya'akov, who is James, warns against becoming teachers of men without first giving careful consideration to the matter, for "teachers will be judged more severely." If we are able to control our speech, then we will be able to control the actions of our bodies as well. James then details the destructive nature of our own speech, noting that although man has tamed all manner of wild beasts, he has yet to tame his own tongue. He then notes that blessings and cursings should not proceed forth from the same mouth. We are given an image of a spring that cannot flow forth with both fresh and bitter water. Conclusion Torah tells how Yoseph is preparing a way to bring restoration within his family, along with a provision for their physical needs. Qeriath shows the people praying to Adonai for a physical restoration to the Land – and He will also provide an eternal spiritual salvation. Da'ath sets an example for us to follow, treating even our enemies with love, just as Yoseph is doing to his brothers. And Igarath shows a specific need to control our speech – and we have seen Yoseph use his speech to bring unity with his brothers.
Overlying all of these
commands is the ability to treat one another with love and respect, through the
power of HaShem in our lives.
Barukh HaShem,
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Shalom