December 14, 2007

Parshat Hashavua: Vayigash               Genesis 44:18-47:27
 
This third of four installments in the Joseph epic is also where the story reaches its climax when Joseph finally reveals his identity to the shock and amazement of his brothers.
 
The brothers have been returned to Egypt to face the viceroy, second only to Pharaoh himself, after having been caught with the viceroy’s diving cup in their brother Benjamin’s sack.  The viceroy, i.e. Joseph has told the brothers that Benjamin will remain as his slave.  The other brothers can return home to their father.
 
Our parashah opens with a long and beautiful speech by Judah, telling Joseph the story of their elderly father who has already accepted the death of one son and now he would die were he to learn that his youngest was enslaved in Egypt.  Jacob had been reluctant to send Benjamin with the brothers altogether, but did so only because that was the condition upon which they could procure food.  Therefore Judah offers himself as a substitute for his brother Benjamin.
 
Unable to restrain himself any longer, Joseph has all of his servants removed from the room.  Joseph then said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still well?”  They were literally dumbfounded.  Joseph goes on to explain that all this was part of God’s plan, so that he might save lives.  He urges his brothers to hurray back to their father and tell him that God has made Joseph lord of all Egypt and that they should all come to live in Egypt since the famine has another 5 years to run.  Pharaoh endorses Joseph’s invitation.  Wagons of supplies were prepared to send back with the brothers.
 
The Torah says that when Jacob saw and heard, his heart went numb! When he finally believed them he said, “My son Joseph is still alive! I must go and see him before I die.”  The entire family set out from Beer Sheva and came to Egypt. They were settled in the land of Goshen, where Joseph met his father.  After embracing, Jacob declared, “Now I can die, having seen for myself that you are still alive.”  Joseph then prepares his family to meet Pharaoh.
 
The parashah ends by describing Joseph’s agrarian policies in which he sold back the stored food to the people and in return nationalized everything in Egypt under the control of Pharaoh.  By the end all the people had become nothing more than serfs to Pharaoh, a problematic policy which we are aware of from other historic situations.
 
Shabbat Shalom
Candle lighting: Friday, December 14, 2007                         4:09pm