PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE AJC DETROIT

2013 Advocacy in Action Dinner

AN EVENING WITH

Jeffrey Goldberg

Award Winning Journalist and Author

MODERATED BY

Nolan Finley

Parshat Vayeshev: Genesis 37:1-40:23;
Amos 2:6-3:8.

Editorial Page Editor, Detroit News

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

F

rom our biblical portion of
Undoubtedly, their anger is fueled
Vayeshev until the conclusion
by their jealousy, but they certainly
of the Book of Genesis, Joseph, took note of the three most disturb-
most beloved and favored son of Jacob, ing factors in Joseph's dreams. First of
takes center stage.
all, Joseph dreams of the earthly part
His chief characteristic
of the mission involved
is that he is a dreamer, a
in agriculture (sheaves of
grain). This represented the
trait which attracts both
devotees and detractors.
all-consuming back-break-
Indeed, Joseph can hardly
ing occupation of powerful,
wait to relate to his family
pagan and sophisticated
these dreams in which he
Egypt, rather than their
plays the central role. They
ancestral, nurturing and
engender deep jealousy
meditative profession of
in the hearts of his broth-
shepherding, so indigenous
ers — a jealousy that is so
Rabbi Shlomo to the Land of Israel.
consuming they are ready
Second, God does not
R is kin
to murder him — whereas,
appear in Joseph's dreams
his father took the dreams very seri-
at all; and third, everyone and every-
ously and anxiously awaited their
thing is bowing down to Joseph. For
fulfillment.
the brothers, this would be blasphemy,
Let us analyze the dreams in order
totally unbefitting the heir to the
to understand their "genesis" within
Abrahamic legacy.
From this point onward, much
Joseph and the reason for the strong
feelings they incurred in the people
intrigue, deception, exile and eventual
around him.
rapprochement will take place in the
Two biblical portions ago, we were
search for the most worthy bearer of
told of father Jacob's dream, "a lad-
the familial heritage. But, above all,
the most important challenge facing
der established on Earth whose top
reached up to the heavens, with angels the entire family — Jacob as well as
of God ascending and descending
his sons and future tribes — is to unite
upon it:' Jacob dreams of uniting Earth behind one person to continue the
and heaven, the material and the spiri- sacred mission.
tual, the physical realm with the super-
The enormous lesson of this com-
nal realm. God is at the center of the
mentary is that a Jewish leader must
dream, Jacob's descendants will spread
be not only a "continuator" and a
out in every direction to bring the
unifier, but also a dreamer. He must
Abrahamic blessing (of compassionate dream the dream of Abraham and
righteousness and moral justice) to all
Jacob, the dream of bringing God's
the families of the Earth, and Jacob
message of love, morality and peace to
all of humanity. Joseph will mature; he
himself will ultimately return to the
Land of Israel.
will come to see God as the center of
Now we see the two dreams of
the universe.
Joseph that sent him the clear message
And with his dying breath, Joseph
that he was the chosen, the heir appar- makes his brothers swear that when
ent and the future leader of the incipi-
God returns them to Israel, they will
bring his remains to be interred in the
ent tribes of Israel.
Joseph first dreams of sheaves of
sacred and eternal land. In the final
grain, symbolic of earthly, material
analysis, what kept Joseph staunchly
blessings. In his dream, Joseph's broth- standing on his feet despite his many
ers' sheaves were all bowing down to
setbacks and peregrinations was his
commitment to the fulfillment of the
his sheaf; he then dreamed of the sun,
familial dream.
moon and 11 stars, symbolic of heav-
enly, spiritual blessings, and that they
Rabbi Shlomo Riskin is chancellor of Ohr
too were all bowing down to him.
Torah Stone in Efrat, Israel.
The brothers are furious.

Townsend Hotel

Individual tickets begin at $150

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VIP Reception begins at $1,250

RSVP by November 25 to:

Ai C

www.ajc.org/detgoldberg
or call the Detroit office at 248.646.7686

Detroit

detroit@ajc.org

Jewish•Chaldean

COMING TOGETHER

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 4 • 2013 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Join us to Build a Bridge of Understanding
Between the Jewish and Chaldean Communities

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL CENTER

28123 Orchard Lake Road
Farmington Hills, MI

EVENT SCHEDULE:

•
•
•
•

Rabbi Josh Bennett from Temple Israel, West Bloomfield — opening remarks
Tour of the Holocaust Memorial Center Exhibits
Dessert reception and dialogue
Social Action Collection of winter coats, hats, gloves and mittens for our
Chaldean and Jewish needy families

RSVP TO GAIL KATZ

Jewish-Chaldean Social Action Initiative Co-Chair
gailkatz@comcast.net • 248.978.6664

❑

We look forward to spending this great evening with you!

1876750

November 21 • 2013

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