TORAH PORTION Answer the call for our people around the corner and around the world. fI Say YES on Joseph's Story Reveals A Divine Purpose )\7 4\ RABBI RICHARD C. HERTZ '92 Allied Jewish Campaign uP 4,1 December 15 - WANTED: COLLEGE STUDENTS OUTSTANDING FULL-TIME FOR SUMMER INTERNSHIPS If you'd like to spend part of the summer working and learning about metro Detroit's Jewish community... Apply now for a summer JOIN internship. The eight-vveek JOIN (Jewish Occupational Intern) program provides an opportunity for full-time college students to work in various agencies serving the metropolitan Detroit Jewish community. Earn $1,300 while you gain practical experience in the areas of human services, research and planning, business administration, communication, recreation or public affairs. Internships may be available at the following agencies: Anti-Defamation League, Agency for Jewish Education, Jewish Association for Residential Care, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Community Council, Jewish Federation Apartments, Jewish Home for Aged, Jewish Vocational Service, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, Hebrew Free Loan Association, Holocaust Memorial Center, Kadima and Sinai Hospital. Written applications must be received by December 20. Personal interviews will be scheduled during winter vacations. For more information -Ind an application form, call Elaine Goldman at Jewish Vocational Service, 559-5000. 1 - —. =- —...• ' 1 101)' t i 1 - 111 4 A d ....; ' „--i- -. , - ' 1 71; ) .— "i i•••• - ' 02, - : EP '-'4111. —"Tr i ,: 4 71. -• '9 ".••• , ' -- --- - -1:1. 4.- -.to. ....".--.0 . - -AD ■ --"*. ■ • - .../ar . .40.> -. 0 .4p. -,...... .„,,,,,, ..../ If. /4)...r., .4 COIN „, JEWELRY ,. , ., V 0 if ... All sizes and styles to meet everyone's budget!. A BUY WHERE THE DEALERS BUY COIN AND BEZEL STARTING AT $85 .(or,.....- ,.....•„,,, frAre„ -4 .11.■ 011, ,r- ■ 11 ...•:‘, ' --... ,,.., —■■ %. ' a --,',71.4 ,l'-k., - \ PI , •,..‘ .. , , • . k l A I . IV .9) \- ..... .../i • 1 lii, 3 ALSO GOLD CHAINS BY WEIGHT. ltvA ■ • ABBOTT'S COINEX CORPORATION 40 • ' N ..... 00. ...... — ____.-- __– _......- .... •,.....,,...–_, .......— __._. ___ ..•. – ......!........... -- . ...., - --. – •••• ........- ...... ___– - ■ - ..... 48 g *! 1 1393 South Woodward Ave. • Birmingham, MI 48011 • 644-8565 N5 Blocks North of 14 Mile • Hrs. 8-5 M-F; 9-1 Sat. qa•- ■ .._ . ... ...... FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1991 JO – Special to . The Jewish News ur weekly Torah por- tion commences with the climax of the drama of Joseph and his brothers in Egypt. The brothers appear before Joseph, having come down from Canaan during its terri- ble famine in search of food. Joseph had recognized them, though they did not realize who the master of Egypt real- ly was. The sedra opens with the dramatic scene of Judah pleading with Joseph to let the brothers go free without leaving Benjamin as hostage. Judah pours out his heart, stressing what will happen to their aged father if Benjamin is not returned home with the brothers and offers to take the place of Benjamin as a slave if Joseph will let Benjamin go free. Judah's eloquence, full of pathos and passion, seems more than Joseph can handle. Joseph could no longer con- tain himself. He ordered everyone else out of the room, and sobbing with emotion, revealed his true identity. Joseph insists that it is the guiding hand of God whose Divine -purpose is being fulfilled. Four times Joseph insists that it was not he but God who brought these miracu- lous events to pass. Joseph could no longer contain his pent-up feelings. In ordering everyone out of the room, Joseph did not want the Egyptians to know that his own brothers had sold him in- to slavery. The Midrash commentators were quite taken by the theme of testing that underlies the confrontation of the brothers with Joseph. Joseph first faces his brothers in bitterness and devises a "cat and mouse" game in order to seek his revenge, but in the end, his feelings toward his father and his brothers bring him to reconciliation. The suspense is heightened in the drama until Joseph sees the affection of the brothers for each other and for their father. When Judah himself offers to substitute himself for Benjamin in order - to save Benjamin, Joseph realizes that the time to reveal himself had come. Joseph then becomes humble, Dr. Hertz is rabbi emeritus of Temple Beth El. like his father, and is over- come by Judah's eloquent speech. Joseph brought his selfish streak to an end. His first thought was for the welfare of his father. The reconciliation ensues. Joseph said to his brothers "I am your brother, Joseph." When Joseph reminded his brothers that they had once sold him into slavery, he was reassuring them and also rebuking them, for the brothers had acted with evil intent; yet Joseph interpreted all of this as the guiding hand of Divine providence. So far, the brothers had not uttered a word. They were so overcome with the dramatic unfoldment of their en- counter that they were Shabbat Vayigash Genesis 44:18-47:27 Ezekiel 37:15-28 speechless. But when Joseph embraced his brother Ben- jamin and Joseph proceeded to kiss all his brothers, "only then were his brothers able to talk to him!' The Pharaoh endorsed the invitation of Joseph to his family to settle in Egypt and thereupon filled his caravans so that the brothers could go off to Canaan and bring their father, Jacob, from the land of Canaan to Egypt. When the brothers told Jacob what had happened, Jacob seemed not concerned either with the famine or with Joseph's rise to power and glory. His only response was, "My son Joseph is still alive! I must go and see him before I die." And with this story, the patriarchal period in the history of Israel comes to an end. Jacob's going to Egypt, though apparently just a family reunion, actually was a visit of great significance. Just as famine had driven Abraham to Egypt, now famine similarly sends his grandson Jacob to Egypt. It was not an easy trip for an ag- ed Patriarch; he had many fears and anxieties, but the Torah tells how Jacob was reassured by God not to be afraid. Joseph now had to prepare his brothers for an audience with Pharoah and brief them how to respond when Pharaoh questioned them. Joseph brought his father, Jacob, and presented him to Pharaoh. The humble,