Spirituality

TORAH PORTION

Whose Birthright* •
Joseph Or Judah?

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

recognizing Israel as his homeland
when he requests to be buried there.
Although he magnanimously for-
espite the cloak of striped
gives his brothers, one might argue
colors Jacob had given his
that because he does not admit his
beloved Joseph decades ear-
part in the "crime" and doesn't seek
lier, symbolizing the bestowal of the
their forgiveness, Joseph can never
birthright upon the son of Rachel, the
truly walk the path of humility
aged Jacob makes it indubitably clear
Neither does he inform his father
that it is Judah — and not Joseph
that he is alive — perhaps
— who will receive the
because he continues to
birthright.
harbor resentment towards
To be sure, Joseph does
him for mismanaging the
receive the double blessing
family. Joseph places no
of material prosperity; but
responsibility upon himself.
this is only a consolation
Such arrogance cannot pave
prize, a backseat gift to the
the way to family unity!
bequeathal of majesty and
Judah, on the other hand,
messianic leadership, the
does manage to earn the
birthright portion of Judah.
voluntary acceptance of his
What made the patriarch
Rabbi Shlomo
brothers. He is also willing
Jacob change his mind?
Riskin
to stand as a guarantor for
I'd like to suggest that
Special to the
Benjamin thereby winning
the first glimmering of
Jewish News
his father's trust. Moreover,
doubt arrives with the
Judah is truly humble, will-
announcement of Joseph's
dreams: These arrogant visions add an ing to publicly admit regarding Tamar
— that "she is more righteous than I."
ideological basis to the jealousy of the
Finally, Judah is the only brother
brothers, theoretically providing them
clever enough to see through the mas-
with just cause for getting rid of this
querade of the Grand Vizier, figuring
upstart.
out that he must be the missing Joseph
Jacob was certainly aware of the
and thereby crafting a defense of
problems that emerged from his son's
Benjamin in a way that compels and
dreams, but he was also enamored of
inspires Joseph to reveal himself to
the universalism and lofty ambition
his brothers and his father so that the
the dreams revealed. If only Joseph
would recognize God as the center and family does eventually reunite.
In the end, Judah's unique qualities
director of human affairs; if only the
young, brash and callow Joseph would pave the way for the aged patriarch's
decision that only he, of all the 12
mature. Jacob desperately wanted to
believe in this first son of his first love brothers, is worthy of bearing the
birthright of Israel.
and favored wife.
However, there is one more crucial
Shlomo Riskin is chancellor of Ohr Torah
element necessary for the birthright:
Stone and chief rabbi of Efrat.
Its recipient must be able to unify the
sons of Israel. After all, only a united
Israel has a chance to influence the
nations of the world.
Conversations
Eventually, as a direct result of his
Who ultimately is the larger fig-
humiliations and journeys, Joseph
ure in the history of the Jewish
matures and comes to understand
people, Joseph or Judah? Can
that, despite his eminence in Egypt,
you
make the argument for
he is hardly as powerful as his dreams
Joseph
receiving the birthright?
predicted. By the end, he succeeds in
placing God at the center ultimately

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hier rite/ nrmen 3111310:1

vtr Jewish Agency far Israel

January 8 • 2009

A31

