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Joseph, left, now a powerful Egyptian official, has not yet revealed his true
identity as his brother Judah pleas for mercy for brother Benjamin.

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Parshat Vayigash: Genesis 44:18-
47:27; Ezekiel 37:15-37:28.

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I

n this week's portion, Vayigash,
never bear a grudge? Is there really no
we have the big reveal. Joseph,
situation in which continued resent-
moved by his brother Judah's
ment is justified?
desire to serve as Joseph's slave in
We learn in the Talmud that the pro-
place of Benjamin, orders his Egyptian hibition against bearing grudges actu-
entourage out of the room and tells his ally applies solely to monetary matters
brothers who he really is.
(Babylonian Talmud Yoma 23a).
They are speechless until he assures
However, despite the lack of a more
them that he is not angry with them
general prohibition against grudge
— rather, his being sold into
holding, we should strive to
slavery was part of a Divine
reconcile with and forgive
plan that allowed him to be
those who we feel have
in a position to later save
wronged us. The result of
everyone from certain star-
Joseph's actions, or lack
vation.
thereof, is that he spends
Joseph's first question to
significantly less time with
his father (and family) than
his brothers upon the reveal
is, "Is my father still well?"
he otherwise could have.
This question, frankly,
Life is simply too short
poses quite a few challenges.
to
punish those we love for
Rabb i Dan
Joseph is the most power-
their
misdeeds by succumb-
Hor witz
ful person in all of Egypt
ing to persistent feelings of
after Pharaoh. He has
resentment.
chariots, food aplenty and servants.
This Shabbat, recognize that while
By the time his brothers come to see
it is human nature to bear grudges,
him, Joseph has been in his position
doing so comes with significant
as Pharaoh's No. 2 for about nine years tradeoffs. Acknowledge that the time
and hasn't seen his father in more than we have in this world is far too pre-
20 years.
cious and short to consume ourselves
If Joseph really cared about his
with resentment. Strive to forgive.
father Jacob's well-being, why didn't he
Rabbi Dan Horwitz is the rabbi and direc-
go home to visit once he had attained
tor of immersive learning for Moishe House
such stature?
International. To learn more about Moishe
Why didn't he send messengers to
House and its network of 50+ houses in 14
let his father know that he was alive
countries, visit www.moishehouse.org.
and well?
Perhaps Joseph chose to not contact
Jacob in order to cause his father pain
— the result of continued resentment
Conversations
— as it was his father's favoritism
• How and when do my feelings
(and Joseph's accompanying ego) that
of resentment toward others
resulted in his brothers despising him
manifest?
and selling him into slavery.
• Which relationships in my life
The Torah states in Leviticus 19:18:
currently need repairing?
"You shall not take vengeance and
• What are the things I need
shall not bear any grudge against the
in order to be able to forgive
members of your people."
someone?
As Jews, are we really meant to

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December 5 • 2013

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