The apparent hero and victor in the epic narrative of the saga of Yosef and his brothers that reaches its culmination in this week’s parsha is certainly Yosef. His dreams and ambitions are fulfilled. His brothers and father have bowed down before him as the prophecy of his dreams indicated. He takes no further revenge against his brothers. He houses them and Yaakov in security and prosperity... READ MORE →
ברור שהגיבור והמנצח של האפוס על יוסף ואחיו שמגיע לשיאו בפרשת השבוע הוא יוסף. החלומות והשאיפות שלו התגשמו. אחיו ואביו השתחוו לפניו כפי שהתנבא בחלומותיו. יוסף איננו נוקם באחיו עוד אלא משכן אותם ואת יעקב אביו בארץ גושן... READ MORE →
The main point in this week's parsha is that Yosef recognizes his brothers while they don't recognize him. The obvious reason for this is that Yosef, pursuing the fulfillment of his heavenly dreams, is looking for his brothers, while they, the brothers themselves, are not partners with Yosef in the dreams and therefore they cannot imagine that they are bowing before Yosef. There are dreams... READ MORE →
הנקודה העיקרית בפרשת השבוע היא שיוסף מזהה את אחיו בזמן, ואילו הם לא מזהים אותו. הסיבה הברורה לכך היא שיוסף, שמאמין בהתגשמות החלומות שקיבל משמים, מחפש את אחיו, ואילו הם, האחים, אינם שותפים לחלומות של יוסף ולכן אינם יכולים... READ MORE →
החיים בכלל, והחיים היהודיים בפרט, בלתי צפויים, מפתיעים, מסתוריים וחידתיים. יעקב מניח שאחרי המפגש שלו עם לבן ועשיו החלק הקשה ביותר כבר מאחוריו. אבל הבלגן הגדול רק מתחיל. מי היה יכול לחזות שאחרי סכסוכי האחים של ישמעאל... READ MORE →
Life generally and Jewish life particularly, is unpredictable, surprising, mysterious and enigmatic. Yaacov expects that after his encounter with Lavan and Eisav the worst is behind him. But the fun is just about to begin. Who could predict that after the sibling controversies between Yishmael and Yitzchak, Yaacov and Eisav that the greatest sibling controversy in Jewish history would now begin?... READ MORE →
In this week’s Parsha, Yaakov sends emissaries to meet his brother Eisav. Midrash, as its want, supplies differing opinions as to who these emissaries were. In fact, Midrash again, as is usual with its insights, offers contradictory views. One interpretation is that the emissaries were humans, servants and allies of Yaakov. A second view is that they were angels, heavenly messengers... READ MORE →
רש"י אומר לנו בבסיום פרשת השבוע שעבר שיעקב עצר בבית המדרש של שם ועבר 14 שנה בדרכו להימלט מאחיו עשו אל בית דודו אשר בארם. העצירה הזאת נראית מוזרה במבט ראשון. איך לימוד בבית המדרש שהקימו שם ועבר תרם להצלתו ולהצלחתו בבית לבן,... READ MORE →
Rashi points out for us in the beginning of this week’s parsha (really at the conclusion of last week’s parsha) that Yaakov stopped at the study house of Shem and Ever for fourteen years on his flight from Eisav to his uncle’s house in Aram. This seems to be a strange stopover at first glance. How will the instruction that he received in the school established by Shem and Ever... READ MORE →
The name of this week’s parsha – Toldot – is taken from the opening verse of the parsha – these are the toldot, the offspring and generations of Yitzchak. It is therefore understandable that the parsha should be named and remembered as the parsha of Toldot since that it is the key operative word. However, there is an exactly similar series of words that begin parshat Noach – these are... READ MORE →
