Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Vayehi Genesis 47:28-50:26

By Shlomo Riskin

Efrat, Israel - “And Jacob called to his sons and said, ‘Gather together and I shall tell you what will happen to you at the end of days’ ”(Genesis 49:1).

The last two portions of the book of Genesis poignantly describe two moments of reconciliation between Father Jacob and his children, the first when Jacob is reunited with his beloved son Joseph after twenty-two years of separation and alienation, and the second when Father Jacob must be reassured by his sons that they will indeed continue in his footsteps. Fascinatingly enough, in both instances, the Rabbis of the Midrash insist that the verse of the Shema - “Hear O’ Israel the Lord Our G-d, the Lord is One” - is a critical factor. Let us analyze each dramatic meeting in order to understand in greater depth the nature of parent - child relationships.

The Bible records that when Joseph hears that his aged father has succeeded in making the difficult journey to Egypt, the Grand Vizier himself “harnesses his chariot...and goes up towards Israel his father; and he appears before him, and he falls on his neck, and he weeps on his neck very much” (Genesis 46:29). Who falls on whose neck and who weeps? Rashi cites the Midrash that it was Joseph who fell upon Jacob’s neck and it was Joseph who wept. But then what was Father Jacob doing at that most sensitive meeting? Explain our Rabbis, Jacob was reciting the Shema.

Many are the possible interpretations of this central Biblical commandment of the unity of the Divine, and many are the possible interpretations of why Jacob used that precise moment to share that particular Biblical verse with his son Joseph. One thing is certain: Joseph had been separated geographically, emotionally and even culturally from his father’s house for more than two decades; he looked like an Egyptian, he spoke like an Egyptian and he acted like an Egyptian, (at least externally). I would imagine that at least one of the reasons that Joseph had not gotten in touch with his father during the years that he was a powerful leader in Pharoah’s court was because he feared that too great a gulf separated the two of them, that his father would not be able to accept such an “Egyptian” son. Hence, Jacob teaches his son,the essence of Judaism: “Hear O Israel, The G-d (Hashem) of Love, our Lord of Justice, are (both in actuality) the One Hashem of Love.” Jacob is emphasizing that although G-d may sometimes appears as a G-d of strict judgement, the real essence of the Divine is accepting and unconditional love. And if G-d loves His children unconditionally, Jacob will certainly love Joseph the “Egyptian” - and even his brothers the deceivers - unconditionally and the beautiful paradox is that when we love freely and unconditionally, our children often respond the way we really would have wanted them to in the first place. And so Joseph not only resumes his place as an integral part and even savior of his family, but he also teaches Pharoah about the G-d of Abraham who interprets dreams and directs the world, and heeven makes his final request to be buried in Israel.

In this week’s Torah reading, the Rabbis of the Midrash attempt to explain why our portion begins without an empty parchment space announcing a new subject. I would suggest a special twist to the Talmudic commentary (B.T. Pesahim 56a). Resh Lakish maintains that Jacob’s eyes were clouded over with fear and anxiety as he looked at the very Egyptian - appearing sons assembled around his deathbed. “ ‘Perhaps invalid and improper fruits have emerged from my loins, just as Yishmael emerged from Abraham and Esau emerged from Isaac’, thought Jacob. The sons replied, ‘Hear O’ Israel the Hashem of Love, Our Lord of Justice, are the one Hashem of love’. Just as you love Joseph unconditionally so do we hope that you will love us unconditionally. And then the result will be that, despite external appearances, just as in your heart there is only One, so in our hearts will there be onlyOne’ ”. And so it was: all twelve sons, including Reuven, succeed in establishing the 12 tribes of Israel.

When I first arrived in Efrat, I began to visit the Masiyahu Detention Center just north of Jerusalem every Thursday. The first time I taught the prisoners Bible, I was amazed to participate in an evening Maariv service led by one of the inmates which turned out to be one of the most soul-filled, inspired and inspiring prayers I had ever experienced. In a private conversation afterwards, he told me his story.

“Although my grandfather was a famous Hakham in Morocco and my father is an observant Jew, I committed just about every sin imaginable. I got married and had a baby daughter; I was not really faithful to my wife, but I supported my family by stealing a few hours each day and serving as a night watchman for a factory. I arrived home unexpectedly one night to find my wife in bed with our next door neighbor, our baby daughter between them. I was enraged; I took my gun determined to murder my wife, her lover or both. I only succeeded in killing my child. My parents stopped talking to me; completely alone, and condemned as a monster, I attempted suicide - but failed. I was imprisoned for manslaughter and felt as if I was living in Joseph’s black pit surrounded by snakes and scorpions.

And then a Hakham came to visit me. He told me that G-d describes Himself to Moses as Hashem, Hashem, which means that He is G-d of Love before one sins, and G-d of Love after one sins - the G-d who loves unconditionally. He told me that G-d loves each of us no matter what we have done because G-d knows that since we are made in His image, Each of us has G-d within us; and each of us can do better! Suddenly I felt myself worthy to be loved. He continued to explain that this world is fleeting and temporary; only the world to come is eternal! The only point to this world is for us to prepare for the next one, and that can be done even in prison. And he told me that even if no one comes to visit me, G-d is always ready to visit me; all I have to do is open my mouth in prayer and G-d will be right there for as long as I pray. Now do you understand why I love to pray so much? Now do you see why I can help bring others closer to the G-d who I love and who loves me so much.”

Shabbat Shalom.