This week's Torah reading is the last in the book of Genesis, and describes Jacob's final blessing to his sons. It also includes Joseph's parting words to his brothers and descendants. Notably, he insists on being buried in Israel -- if not immediately, then one day. During the Exodus, Moses made it his personal responsibility to carry Joseph's bones our for eventual repatriation.
I had an insight last week while listening to my rabbi's sermon on the story of Judah confronting Joseph over the fate of Benjamin. It struck me that rather than thinking of Joseph testing his brothers to see whether they had repented, Joseph may have actually been trying to free his one remaining full brother (from the same mother) from a family he believed to be oppressive.
After all, the brothers had sold him into slavery, and had never tried to rescue him. Nor had his father, to whom Joseph had been particularly close, tried to find Joseph. Of course, Joseph could not have known that Jacob thought his beloved son was dead. But lacking further information, Joseph concluded that his family might simply have been evil. He had to rescue Benjamin from it.
Moreover, Joseph had concluded that perhaps assimilation into Egyptian culture wasn't too bad. It had been rough going, at first, but it had worked out all right in the end. Joseph had brought his faith with him, and while he knew that God had interpreted Pharaoh's dreams in a helpful way, he may have thought that faith can persist in isolation, without family or community.
Judah's protest was not just proof that he and his brothers had repented, and were now willing to give their own lives to save their brother, but also an impassioned argument on behalf of the Jewish faith. Judah appealed to Joseph on the basis of compassion: how could he (Judah) face his father if he did not bring Benjamin back as promised? In other words, faith is based on empathy.
That was an argument against Joseph's rationalist approach. And suddenly Joseph realized the truth -- both about his situation, and his faith. Judah had aroused his compassion for his father, and Joseph also understood that Jacob still missed him, thinking him dead. Hence Joseph's first question after revealing himself: "Is my father yet alive?" It is true? Because, if so, all is clear.
That is all in last week's portion; this week's focuses on the events that follow. The Haftarah -- the additional reading -- is from the Book of Kings, recalling King David's final blessing to his son, Solomon. He settles his accounts -- for good and for bad -- before parting with words of advice to the young king: Be a man. Become what you are, the best God intended you to be -- then a king.
This is my first broadcast from the new office and studio in Washington, DC, where I'll be for a couple of years my neighborhood back in L.A. cleans up -- and as we follow the Trump administration from a little closer up than usual.
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- The anniversary of the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump
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- The future of the Middle East peace talks, and ongoing antisemitism
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And more!
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This week’s portion tells the grand story of the prophet who tried to curse people of Israel and instead ended up blessing them.
I am reminded that these portions continue to be relevant anew, as this particular reading lent the title for Israel’s recent 12 Day War against Iran, “Operation Rising Lion.”
This week's portion includes the commandment of the red heifer -- one of the classic "irrational" commandments whose fulfillment is an expression of faith. It also includes the regrettable episode in which Moses strikes the rock.
I referred to this story in a wedding speech last night. Why was Moses punished for striking the rock in Numbers, when he struck the rock without incident in Exodus -- both for the purpose of providing water to the people?
The answer is that in the interim, the Jewish people had received the Torah, which is like the marriage contract between the people of Israel and God. In a marriage, you do not resolve things by breaking boundaries, but through love.
The additional reading, from Judges Chapter 11, is the story of Jephthah (Yiftach), a man whom the leaders spurn, but to whom they must turn to save the nation. The parallels to our present political circumstances are striking.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Fourth of July!
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