A strange occurrence takes place at the beginning of this week’s Parshah. Joseph takes his sons to Jacob, in order to have them blessed before Jacob’s death. Jacob, however, does not seem to recognise them and asks who they are. This is rather puzzling, as not only is it inconceivable that he had never met his favourite son’s children, but he had just elevated them to equal status with his own children. As Rashi puts it elsewhere: this whole story cries out for deeper explanation. Many commentators explain that Joseph’s son’s look Egyptian and Jacob, shocked by their appearance, is questioning their Jewish identity. This too, needs explanation, as Jacob had surely seen them before. It is possible, however, that when visiting their grandfather, the children dressed as Jews. This time, owing to the urgent nature of the visit, the came as they were. Turning up in the full regalia of Egyptian princes, they shock their grandfather. Seeing them for the first time as fully integrated into Egyptian society, Jacob is constrained to question whether one can be both fully Egyptian and fully Jewish at the same time. Joseph answers that they are his sons; sharing his vision and identity. Joseph is precisely the one, who in Rashi’s words: ‘was both a prince and had been captive among gentiles, and yet remained righteous’. Joseph manages to combine his Jewish and Egyptian status, without compromising either; and it is this identity he also claims for his sons. This issue is of vital importance for Jews today, no matter where they live. Do Jews turn in upon themselves, surviving only in self imposed ghettos; or do we interact fully with the wider world. The path of isolation is one which has served Jews well; yet it ignores our Divine mission to be a light to the nations. One can also question whether, in the age of the internet, it is realistically feasible in the long term. This question is of special relevance for our community. If we believe that to be fully Jewish you have to live in a sort of ghetto, we should shut up shop and move south, or to Israel. If we believe, however, that the best way of being Jewish is to live a fully Jewish life as a totally integrated member of our wider society; we have an important role to play. But we can only do that by showing our Jewish commitment. By keeping Shabbat and Kashrut in Edinburgh, we provide an example to others of what can be achieved. Let us show the world that we, today and here, can also be a Joseph.
ALIYAH BY ALIYAH SYNOPSIS
|
Rishon |
Jacob makes Joseph swear to bury him in Hebron. He adopts Joseph’s sons as equal inheritors. |
|
Sheni |
Jacob blesses Joseph‘s sons; blessing the younger before the elder. |
|
Shelishi |
Jacob tells Joseph that G-d will eventually return them home. |
|
Revi’i |
Jacob blesses his sons: Reuben, Shimon, Levi, Judah, Zevulun, Issachar and Dan. |
|
Chamishi |
Jacob blesses Gad, Asher, Naphtali and Joseph. |
|
Shishi |
Benjamin is blessed. Jacob dies and is buried with great pomp in the Cave of Machpelah. Joseph’s brothers worry he will now get revenge. |
|
Shevi’i |
Joseph reassures them. He dies and is buried in Egypt. |
|
Haftorah |
I Kings: 2;1-12: David’s final instructions to Solomon. |
Sidra Statistics
Sidra Statistics: Parshat Vayehi
· has 85 verses ;
· is the 12th in Genesis, 12th in the Torah
· shortest in Genesis, 43rd longest in the Torah
· has no mitzvot.
· Genesis: has:
· 1534 verses, 12 parshiot, 3 mitzvot
