This Shabbos, we discussed parsha Vayigash, including commentary from Rav Yeager. We discussed fast days in general, and specifically the fast day of the 10th of Tevet. And we discussed the character trait of humility. I would like to thank David and Linda for hosting our Kiddush and learning. David Schlesinger led discussion.
We discussed that humility is a very important character trait. Hashem gives each of us special talents. But we should never view these talents as making us more important than others. David spoke about his dad, Rav Dr George Schlesinger, and how he would describe humility as being aware of our strengths, but not believing our strengths are any more important than anyone else’s strengths. In addition to being aware of our strengths, we should of course be aware of our weaknesses.
We discussed why we have fast days, and what Rav Malamed says on this subject. We have these days to help remind us of tragedies that happened to us through out history. If we did not have fast days, we would tend to forget these tragedies.
We discussed why we have fast days, and what Rav Malamed says on this subject. We have these days to help remind us of tragedies that happened to us through out history. If we did not have fast days, we would tend to forget these tragedies.
We discussed some of the specific fast days. We discussed the fast of the 9th of Av, and how it commemorates the destruction of the first and second temple, which both happened on the same day of the year. We also discussed the fast of the 10th of Tevet, which was the day after Shabbos. Unlike the fast on the 9th of Av, the fast on the 10th of Tevet only goes from sun up to sun down, rather than 24 hours. The 10th of Tevet is the date the Babylonians started their invasion of Jerusalem. After this date, they were eventually able to penetrate the wall surrounding the city, and later were able to destroy the first temple. All of this led to our exile from Israel.
We discussed how back in this time of the first temple, we were engaged in immorality and were warned by prophets that there would be consequences, however we ignored these warnings. Although the Jews who were exiled were engaged in immorality, the presence of any Jew in Israel has great significance, and the exile of any Jew is a tragedy.
Yaki gave a very interesting dvar torah, about how things that seem to be bad, can be there for the reason of leading to a greater good. We have discussed the virtuous response to suffering. This Shabbos, Yaki discussed how it would seem like a very bad thing that Joseph was sold off as a slave and sent to Egypt, but in the end this ended up ensuring the continuation of Jacob’s family, who were not going to be able to survive in Israel any more due to a famine.
In the parsha, Joseph speaks about forgiving his brothers, because this was all a part of Hashem’s plans. Yaki shared about how Jacob also realized this was Hashem's plans, and said the Sh’ma the first moment he saw Joseph after all those years. Coming to Egypt allowed us not only survive, but to flourish and grow substantially in numbers. Of course, we were later enslaved by the Egyptians, but if it wasn’t for this enslavement we would not have had the opportunity to be freed by Hashem, and begin our journey to Mt. Sinai to receive the Torah.
We discussed an idea from Rav Yeager, how when Jacob learned that Joseph was still alive he was not totally surprised, as he had never accepted that Joseph was dead in the first place. Jacob’s main concern with Joseph was whether or not he had survived spiritually. Dave W shared his thoughts that Jacob was very concerned that Joseph may have assimilated into Egyptian culture.
Rob asked an interesting question, which is whether Jacob would have preferred Joseph to die physically rather than spiritually. We talked about how Jacob’s main concern was the continuation of Judaism, and the special relationship with Hashem that had begun with Abraham. Jacob did not want Benjamin to go to Egypt, as this was Rachel’s only other child. It was Benjamin who was chosen by Jacob to continue our faith, after Joseph was sent to Egypt.
We discussed how back in this time of the first temple, we were engaged in immorality and were warned by prophets that there would be consequences, however we ignored these warnings. Although the Jews who were exiled were engaged in immorality, the presence of any Jew in Israel has great significance, and the exile of any Jew is a tragedy.
Yaki gave a very interesting dvar torah, about how things that seem to be bad, can be there for the reason of leading to a greater good. We have discussed the virtuous response to suffering. This Shabbos, Yaki discussed how it would seem like a very bad thing that Joseph was sold off as a slave and sent to Egypt, but in the end this ended up ensuring the continuation of Jacob’s family, who were not going to be able to survive in Israel any more due to a famine.
In the parsha, Joseph speaks about forgiving his brothers, because this was all a part of Hashem’s plans. Yaki shared about how Jacob also realized this was Hashem's plans, and said the Sh’ma the first moment he saw Joseph after all those years. Coming to Egypt allowed us not only survive, but to flourish and grow substantially in numbers. Of course, we were later enslaved by the Egyptians, but if it wasn’t for this enslavement we would not have had the opportunity to be freed by Hashem, and begin our journey to Mt. Sinai to receive the Torah.
We discussed an idea from Rav Yeager, how when Jacob learned that Joseph was still alive he was not totally surprised, as he had never accepted that Joseph was dead in the first place. Jacob’s main concern with Joseph was whether or not he had survived spiritually. Dave W shared his thoughts that Jacob was very concerned that Joseph may have assimilated into Egyptian culture.
Rob asked an interesting question, which is whether Jacob would have preferred Joseph to die physically rather than spiritually. We talked about how Jacob’s main concern was the continuation of Judaism, and the special relationship with Hashem that had begun with Abraham. Jacob did not want Benjamin to go to Egypt, as this was Rachel’s only other child. It was Benjamin who was chosen by Jacob to continue our faith, after Joseph was sent to Egypt.
We discussed from Rav Yeager, how Judith understood all this, and this is why he offered to guarantee Benjamin’s safety. In Egypt, Judith offered to substitute himself for Benjamin, as he understood the spiritual importance of Benjamin to his father, and to the continuation of our faith.
This is a summary of what we discussed. No halachic rulings are intended or should be inferred.
No comments:
Post a Comment