TORAH PORTION
Cetanne
DETROIT'
INSTITUTE
OF ARTS
Mali
Degas
Gauguin
Staying In Touch
With Those We Love
Magritte
Matisse
Modighani
Monet
Shabbat Rosh Chodesh, Chanukah
Day 6, (Parshat Mikketz): Genesis
41:1-44:17; Numbers 28:9-15; 7:42-47;
Zachariah 2:14-4:7; Isaiah 66:1, 23.
Picay,o
Renoir
Rodin
Van Gogh
Ann Arbor
Joseph had to wait until his broth-
ers bowed down to him so that his
ow that most people carry
dreams would be fulfilled before he
cell phones all of the time,
identified himself.
staying in contact with a
The most interesting one to me:
loved one is easy. Sometimes we make
Perhaps Joseph was sure that Jacob
light of it and even might joke about
actually knew that he was alive since
how family members expect us to call
they had such a strong connection
constantly. But the truth
and since Jacob believed
is that continuing to be in
Joseph's dreams would come
contact with those who
true, and he would be in the
care about us is a respon-
presence of his son again.
sibility for each and every
Either because he was wait-
one of us. In all but the
ing for the right moment
most extreme circumstanc-
or because he felt in his
es, no matter how strained
heart that the contact wasn't
the relationship, no mat-
necessary, Joseph chose not
ter how superfluous such
to find a way to contact his
contact may seem to be, we
grieving father.
Rabbi Robert
need to let those who love
I can forgive Joseph for
Dobrusin
us know where we are and
a lot of things. But this one
Special to the
how we are.
is tough. It doesn't seem
Jewish News
Think about this subject
that any of the reasons that
in relation to the Joseph
might have motivated him
narrative that we are currently read-
to continue his masquerade and his
ing in the Torah. We can explain away
separation from his father were justi-
much of the negative behavior of
fied. No matter what he might have
Joseph. We can make excuses for his
thought, the long years of separation
arrogance — after all, he was treated
demanded more sensitivity and con-
in a more superior way by his father.
cern. We can do better than Joseph.
We can understand his difficulties
Think about it. Take advantage of the
with his brothers since their relation-
fact that things are much easier now
ship was strained since childhood.
than in ancient Egypt. Make the phone
But there is one aspect of his behavior call; send the e-mail; write the letter.
that we can not explain away so easily: Do it sooner, rather than later. ❑
Joseph's failure to contact his father
during all of his years in Egypt. It is
Robert Dobrusin is rabbi of Beth Israel
unfathomable.
Congregation in Ann Arbor.
In the course of this week's parshah,
Joseph is brought out of jail and put
into a position of authority. Years pass.
Conversations
He meets his brothers and sends them
Can you think of any other
back to Canaan with food; but even
reason why Joseph might not
then, he doesn't take the opportunity
have contacted his father during
to make contact through them with
his years in Egypt? The Torah
his beloved father.
doesn't say anything about
Explanations are offered by both
Jacob confronting Joseph about
ancient and modern commentators.
his lack of contact. If you were
Perhaps Joseph had to wait until his
Jacob, would you have said
brothers actually confessed their sin
something to your son, or would
before he revealed himself because
you have just celebrated see-
he wanted them to do teshuvah, to
ing him again and ignored this
repent, of their own accord. Perhaps
issue?
N
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.,.....
Modem Masten from the Cleveland Museum of A
October 12, 2
- January 1 8, 2009
Masterpiece after masterpiece after
masterpiece. See them now.
For tickets visit www.dia.org or the DIA
Box Office. Members receive FREE tickets.
Join today! 313.833.7971
Bank of America
This exhibition has been organized by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Me'
1161
In Detroit, the exhibition is proudly sponsored by Bank of America. Additional support has been provided by the Michigan
Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the City of Detroit.
Amedeo Modigliani (ftelian. 1 884-1920). Portrait of a Woman (detaii), c.1917-18. at on canvas; b5 x 48.3 cm. The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Gift of the Hanna Fund 1951.358. 0 The Cleveland Museum of Art. Karl Schmidt-Rottluff (German, 1884-1976). Self-lixtrait with Hat :detail), 1919.
Oii on canvas; 73.3 x 55 cm. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Beguest of Dr. William R. Vatentiner 1965.440. C 2008 Artists Rights Society (ARS).
New York / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn.
1 4 156311, ,
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December 25 • 2008
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