Parshat VaYeshev

 This page is dedicated to categorizing and slightly expanding the blurbs of each article on the parsha. Instead of presenting here per how things were written chronologically (in the order of the years each was written), the goal is to divide in the order of the narrative's subject matter.

 Vayeshev:

Humility - a Theme of Vayeshev - In comparing the career / life paths of Yosef and Yehuda, what emerges is humility as a guiding factor in their respective lives' directions. Yes, they come to their own clashes in Vayeshev and Vayigash, but each one is coming from a keen sense of how the moment will play out for eternity. 

Who is To Blame When People Die? - A COVID caution using Er and Onan as a catalyst for what it means to "blame" people for anyone's death. Is it not in God's hands to decide these things? Certainly pointing fingers at people over political preferences and over decisions that were made up by humans, and largely unfounded scientifically - a supposition I had evidence for at the time (though it was against what some thought was conventional wisdom) which proved to be correct - turned out to be a very wrong way to go, and pinned normally reasonable people against one another. 

Yosef and His Brothers

What Was Yosef Telling Yaakov About His Brothers? - The Torah tells us they were jealous of him. The Torah tells us they hated him. Different provocations, different responses. Clearly Yosef said something about his brothers to their father. Commentaries debate as to what he said to Yaakov (or to Yisrael!). The takeaway from all the possibilities (many of which are expanded upon in this article) is that jealousy and hatred are disastrous ingredients in trying to make a relationship work.

The First Conspiracy Theory - Yosef ending up in Shechem, the belly of the beast of the brothers' most cynical behavior, and his eventually being sold to Egypt to become a slave, is altogether wrapped in far too much

Yosef the Ruler v Yosef the Brother - good guy or bad guy? - The fight between the brothers is eerily reminiscent of the fight between Kayin and Hevel. In the eyes of the brothers, it may very well be that Yosef is viewed as the "bad guy." The worst outcome (death) is evaded, however, because Yosef's attitude towards his brothers is one of "seeking them out." He wants the family to remain intact, no matter how they may view one another. 

Yosef's Dreams

Having a Role in Others' Dreams - All the dreams Yosef encounters in this parsha - of the butler and baker, and those he dreamt himself - had messages for him. How does one read through the noise to find the message? [This is presented at the end of the Parsha as well, where it is actually more relevant]

Dreams - It's a Numbers Game - all of the dreams in the parsha include a "number of items." In Yosef's first dream a number of bundles (he knows the number but he doesn't tell his brothers the number), in his second dream 11 stars, 1 moon, 1 sun. In the dreams of butler and baker, the number 3 appears. How do the numbers help Yosef understand the dreams?

Sale of Yosef

Searching For A Brother - When he encounters the "man" in Dotan, and is asked what he wants, Yosef says he is seeking his brothers. This is an important reminder of what it means for US to seek our brethren, and to want the very best for our fellow Jews. 

Honest Hatred and a Roadmap for Peace - Among other signs, the brother's inability to say Yosef's name indicates they had a hatred which was hard to overcome. Seeing your enemy as someone who has a right to exist and with whom a reasonable life can be lived alongside, even if doing our own things, is a key ingredient to having at least a peaceable existence in which everyone can at least live a life. Obvious parallels to hopes for what can be achieved between Israel and neighbors, in the immediate aftermath of October 7 2023.

Shimon - Flawed Tribe - His role in the sale of Yosef, among other flaws, is analyzed here

Yehuda and Tamar

Right, Wrong and Moral Justifications - a thought on the time and place for publishing R-rated materials, in light of our ability (or inability) to determine whether the characters in this story (Yehuda and Tamar) were right or wrong, even though time tells us and retroactively justifies (in a sense) the encounter that produces Peretz, the ancestor of King David. Does this - that the Torah recounts this tale - give allowance for Jewish people to print whatever they feel is a story worthy of being told, even if its messaging is rather problematic and troubling?

Yehuda and Tamar - an odd tale - We explore many questions about the ages of the characters, the relationships of all the parties, intentions of all involved. We also examine the attitudes of Yehuda and Tamar in trying to build the family's future.

Yehuda and Tamar's Relationship AFTER Discovery - The story is over. Tamar has given birth. What does the relationship of Yehuda and Tamar look like? Are they married? Are they married "in name only" but do not have a physical relationship? Are they apart from one another? The Torah is vague - so we explore possibilities based on the information the Torah provides. 

A Tale of Two Women - We compare the dalliances of Tamar and Mrs. Potiphar, understanding that both stories do not look pretty when they happen (no one comes out as looking very good, except maybe Yosef who escapes the clutches of Mrs. Potiphar), but 20/20 hindsight certainly puts Tamar in a good light, and Yehuda in a neutral one, which becomes honorable when he admits to it and saves Tamar from punishment. What remains the largest factor in this analysis is intent and outcome. Here Tamar shines, and Mrs. Potiphar is relegated to a certain dustbin of history. 

Yosef in Potiphar's House

Filling the Emptiness with Inspiration - A Chanukah thought related to a Midrash of Yosef seeing a vision of his father while Mrs. Potiphar was pursuing Yosef. The window is a place of vision - where Yosef saw his father, and where Jews inspire other Jews to see "you are not alone - we are all celebrating Chanukah together."

The Inspiring Righteousness of Yosef Ha'Tzaddik - We learn from Yosef's encounter with Mrs. Potiphar for how we are to face challenges and overcome temptation. Essentially, putting up safeguards to help us avoid falling prey to certain sinful actions is an important step in our holding up community standards.

Yichud - Societal Problem with a Real-World Solution - Forward women, #metoo movement, a Vice President who does not have dinner dates with women who aren't his wife (that he was harangued about this shows what is wrong with our society). Mrs. Potiphar is an example of the worst kind of predator behavior - inexcusable for men AND inexcusable for women to behave this way. 

 

Yosef in Prison

Of Butler(s) and Baker(s) - There is much repetition and implication of more players, prisons, and punishments than most people give credit for. What can we make of the information that is presented to us that can be read to suggest much more going on than meets the eye?

Having a Role in Others' Dreams - All the dreams Yosef encounters in this parsha - of the butler and baker, and those he dreamt himself - had messages for him. How does one read through the noise to find the message?