Overview of the Weekly Reading: VaYeshev
To be read on 25
Kislev 5764 (Dec.
20) First Day of Chanukah
VaYeshev
is the 9th Reading out of 12 in Genesis and
9th overall, and 28th out of 54 in overall
length.
Torah:
Gen.37:1-40:23; Haftorah:
Zacharia 2:14-4:7 (for Chanukah, describing the Temple menorah)
Mevarchin Chodesh (the New
Month Blessing)
Pirkei
Avot: not till after Passover
Vayeshev describes how Yosef shepherded with his brothers
and brought bad reports of them to Yaacov. Yosef was Yaacov's favorite
son, to whom he gave a colorful coat, but this favoritism bred jealousy
towards Yosef. By reporting in detail two dreams he had, Yosef provoked
even more jealousy. One day, the brothers went to shepherd in Shechem,
and Yaacov asked Yosef to go to them. Seeing Yosef approach, the
brothers plot to kill the 'dreamer'. Reuven stopped them and suggested
throwing Yosef into a pit instead, in the secret hope of saving
Yosef later. After removing his coat, the brothers threw Yosef into
the pit. In Reuven's absence the remaining brothers sold Yosef to
merchants who were on their way to Egypt.
To hide their deed, the brothers dipped Yosef's coat in goat blood.
Believing his son killed by wild animals, Yaacov grieved inconsolably.
Yosef was sold to Potifar, captain of Pharaoh's guard. Meanwhile,
Yehuda married and had three sons, Er, Onan, and Shela. Er married
Tamar. When Er died in consequence of a sin, Yehuda told Onan to
marry Tamar and have a child to carry on Er's name. Onan died as
well due to his sins. Yehuda was reluctant to let her marry his
third son. When Yehuda went to shear sheep, Tamar disguised herself
as a prostitute and became pregnant from Yehuda. As payment to the
'prostitute' he doesn't recognize, Yehuda promised a goat, and as
collateral gave her his seal, wrap, and staff. Sentenced to death
for unlawful pregnancy, Tamar sent Yehuda his seal, wrap and staff,
hinting to her innocence but protecting him from embarrassment.
Yehuda declared Tamar's righteousness. Tamar gave birth to twin
boys, Peretz and Zerach.
In Egypt, Yosef became manager of Potifar's house, but attracted
the attention of Potifar's wife. Because Yosef evaded her advances,
she became angry and accused Yosef of trying to rape her. Yosef
was subsequently imprisoned. He became the supervisor of the other
prisoners. Pharaoh's butler and baker were imprisoned in the same
dungeon. Each dreamt a dream which Yosef interpreted correctly:
The baker was to be sentenced to death, but the butler would be
returned to his position. Yosef asked the butler to mention him
to Pharaoh, hoping this would free him. Yet when the butler was
released, he forgot his promise to Yosef.
FROM THE MASTERS
OF KABBALA (K:09-64/VaYeshev
)
From the holy
Zohar, teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai
(Z:08-64/VaYishlach
)
These
are the generations of Jacob, Joseph..." (Gen.37:2). This is as we
have learned, that Jacob and Joseph were similar. Everything that
happened to Jacob happened also to Joseph. The two of them go together.
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section
on our KabbalaOnline
site.
* * * * *
From the holy
Ari, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria of Safed
(A:09-64/VaYeshev )
In
the idiom of our sages, peace is termed the ultimate vessel for containing
blessing. This is clear because acrimony will cause any blessings
- whether of health, prosperity, or fulfillment - to be squandered.
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section
on our KabbalaOnline
site.
* * * * *
From the Shelah,
Shney Luchot HaBrit by Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz
(S:09-64/VaYeshev
)
The
reason that of all the people it had to be Rabbi Akiva who was singled
out to suffer the punishment on behalf of the Shechina, was that in
the course of his studies he, more than any other scholar, had penetrated
into the hidden aspects of G-d. In other words, he had experienced
the "wings" of the Shechina as being immediately above him.
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section
on our KabbalaOnline
site.
FROM THE CHASSIDIC
REBBES (V:09-64/VaYeshev)
"Reuben
said...'Throw him into this pit'...that he might deliver him out
of their hand to return him to his father." (37:22)
According to the Talmud (Shabbat 21), the pit was full of snakes
and scorpions. Nonetheless, Reuben felt it would be the safer alternative
for Joseph, as animals have no free will, and G-d would surely protect
him. The brothers, by contrast, might very well decide to kill him.
Reuben sought to remove Joseph from the control of entities with
free will, and "return him to his Father"-place him under
the direct mercy of his Heavenly Father.
(Otzar Chaim)
Judah said..."What will we gain if we slay our brother?"
(37:26)
The Hebrew word for "gain," betza, is also an acronym
for the Hebrew words for morning, afternoon and night, the times
of the three daily prayers. Judah was telling his brothers, "If
we kill Joseph, how will we be able to stand before G-d in prayer
with our brother's blood on our hands?"
(Vedibarta Bam)
A
MYSTICAL CHASSIDIC DISCOURSE
from the Chabad
Master series, produced by Rabbi Yosef Marcus for
www.ascentofsafed.com and www.kabbalaonline.org
An
essay from Rabbi Shaul Yosef Leiter, director of Ascent 
(for a free weekly email subscription,
click here)
(W:09-64/VaYeshev )
What is the secret to success? In this week's Torah portion, we come
across an interesting inconsistency. Yosef found himself in two difficult
situations, first as a slave to Potifar, and then afterwards, even
more difficult, in prison. Nevertheless, in both instances, Yosef
merited such great success that he was put in charge.
What is interesting is how the Torah describes his success. In the
house of Potifar it says, "everything that Yosef did, G-d brought
success to his hand"(39/3). Whereas in prison it says, "and
what he did, G-d made successful"(39/23). As a prisoner, the
Torah omits the word, yado-'his hand'.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains how the Talmud (Moed Katan 28a) states
that success comes not from effort, but from mazal, specifically
the dynamic impact of a person's constellation on his life, known
colloquially as luck. Judaism says that luck is a gift from above.
Looking at the world around us, we see there are two types of successful
people. There are those for whom things consistently go well. They
make their effort, and they are apparently successful. Then there
are people who for no discernable reason find success which can not
be explained in human terms. It just has to be G-d.
In the house of Potifar, Yosef merited the first kind of success,
through 'his hand'. In prison, as a prisoner against truly impossible
odds, Yosef reached the even higher success, of 'G-d made success'.
This wondrous success specifically happened to Yosef in prison to
teach that the vessel for this latter divine success is putting ourselves
totally in G-d's hands. The more we feel helpless-not in negative
terms, just that we nullify ourselves to G-d's will-the more divine
success can be revealed in us.
We see this in Yeshayahu, 'To this one I will look, says G-d, to the
poor and contrite of spirit' (66/2). G-d looks at and helps those
who have the most nullified sense of self, who perceive themselves
as poor. So it was with Yosef. The slave's purpose is to work. Even
though the work belongs to his master, the slave has a purpose. However,
in the case of a prisoner, even if he does work, he receives no credit
for it. It was only in prison, at Yosef's lowest point when he had
nothing, that he merited the most divine success. As a slave, his
success was limited by 'his hand'. Not so as a prisoner. Here, the
success was unlimited to such an extent that it was apparent to everyone
that G-d was with him.
Even in Potifar's idolatrous home, Yosef was full of faith. On the
verse, (39/3) 'And his master saw that G-d was with him (Yosef),'
Rashi explains that Yosef would always say 'Thank G-d'. Since Yosef
gave the credit to G-d, even Potifar, an idol worshiper became convinced.
The Torah did not make this point about Yosef when he was in prison
because everyone could see his success came from G-d.
Of course, G-d expects us to make efforts in being successful, and
when we do so, He will help us. Nevertheless, at times we encounter
situations in which success alludes us, regardless of any effort we
may exert. When this happens, the one and only way to proceed is to
count on G-d. He does and will come through for us and make us successful
despite the odds. We have to rely on G-d, and when we do, our success
is guaranteed.
Sunday and Monday were the Chabad holiday of the 19th and 20th of
Kislev which celebrate the 1st Chabad Rebbe's release from prison
for teaching Chassidut. Certainly, part of the lesson is that the
release came about through his total reliance on G-d. But there is
another message. Thousands of Chabad representatives around the world
have growing institutions, unparalleled success and influence in almost
every location. This success comes from the Rebbe's followers' total
reliance on the G-d. Decide today, this Rosh Hashana of Chassidut,
to increase your study of Chassidut.
Shabbat Shalom, Shaul Leiter
(for a free weekly email subscription, click
here)
For all our insights for this parsha:
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year
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