Torah Portion

Reinterpreting A Legacy:
Assets Vs. Values

scholarship, priesthood or commerce.
Rashi, the foremost commentator on
the Torah, questions how was it that
blessing was dispensed, when in real-
ity Jacob took this deathbed oppor-
tunity to chastise some of the sons?
Destinies were described prophetical-
acob, conscious of death
ly, as Jacob intuits the strengths that
approaching, communicates
each would contribute to the Jewish
his final wishes to his chil-
people. He blesses "them" with the
dren. It is the only deathbed
blessings of "all," requiring a wholly
scene found in the Torah.
unified organic family, despite their
individuality.
Midrashic tradition speaks of a
new human experience — sickness or
This intense, idyllic and warm
weakness as a forewarning
family scene concludes
to death. Previously
when Jacob finishes
mankind died with a sneeze.
instructing his sons. After
Here, Jacob consciously asks
the burial, the Torah
for sickness, for time to pre-
describes Joseph's brothers
pare for his eternal rest (the
reacting "on high alert."
tractate Sanhedrin 107B),
Rather than a peaceful, fra-
but first wants to set his
ternal finale, we witness
affairs in order between the
unexpected trepidation on
children. Here is the first
the part of the brothers, as
instance among our ances-
once again they wither in
tors of a "living will."
shame, focusing on their
HO WARD
Naturally, his first con-
mistreatment of Joseph
SHE RIZEN
cern is with his own burial,
years
earlier. Had not
Specia Ito the
making his royal son swear
Joseph
unmasked himself
Jewish News
to bury him back home, in
in the previous parsha
Canaan — at the
(Torah portion), privately
Machpelah Cave in Hebron together
shedding the clothes of Egyptian
with the other matriarchs and patri-
Viceroy and identifying himself as
their true brother? Had he not con-
archs. The next stage is to allocate
vinced them that the cruel circum-
blessings and destinies to his children
stances of his descent to Egypt was a
and grandchildren. Yet, before Jacob
is able to start with the blessings, he
necessary step for the entire family,
must first summon them, by calling
which at the moment seemed acri-
them to "come round ... get togeth-
monious yet proved a source of
er" (he'asfu, hikavtzu). There is clear-
benevolence and blessing? Joseph
ly tension in the diverse character
tried to teach his brothers to reinter-
differences among his children.
pret life's events through a spiritual
Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Leiner
prism. In particular, their harsh
(the Ishbitzer), a controversial 19th-
behavior proved to be a blessing in
century chasidic commentator, in his
disguise. Had it not been for the
classic, Mei HaShiloach, notes that
the passage is not prefaced by the
word "blessing," unlike Moses in his
finale to the Jewish people — and
for good reason. Jacob is suspicious
What does Judaism regard as the
and resentful, angry with his sons for
highest form of kindness? (See
putting him through the torment of
Genesis 47:29.) Can we excuse an
Joseph's presumed death. Anger is
immoral act on the grounds that it
reflected in his harsh words to
brings about a desired end?
Reuben, Simon and Levi, the first
Shouldn't the actions of Joseph's
three sons who are traditionally
brothers be condemned, even if
understood to have played the most
their viciousness was a necessary
active roles in deceiving their father.
link in the chain of events leading
Gradually, Jacob's blessings
to the rescue and resettlement of
unfold. He blesses each son separate-
the Jewish people? (See R. Meir
ly, according to past behavior, assess-
Simcha of Dvinsk, the Ohr
ing their character and defining their
Somayach, Leviticus 16:30, who
distinctive roles such as royalty,
censures the sale of Joseph, with

Shabbat Vayechi:
Genesis 47:28-50:26•
I Kings 2:1-12.

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