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Parsha Thoughts for Sheva Brochos

Vayigash
Rabbi Y. Benyowitz
(Genesis 44:18-47:27)

This week’s portion continues a story from where we left it last week. Binyomin (Benjamin) has been caught with the Egyptian Vicory's personal goblet. The Viceroy’s representatives determined that whomever was found with the goblet would be punished with slavery, but that his travel companions, his brothers, would be free to go. Instead, he and all of his brothers return to Egypt to meet with the Viceroy. Yehudah (Judah) pleads with Yosef (Joseph, the viceroy) to allow him to suffer the slavery that is, at this time, Binyomin’s destiny.

As a result of that exchange, Yosef can no longer continue the charade and, after having all of the Egyptians leave the room, reveals that he is their brother. He instructs them to immediately go and bring their father down to Egypt. The Torah then records (45:16) that "the message went out to Pharoh's house that Yosef's brothers had come to Egypt and both Pharoh and his servants were pleased with the information."

The Ramban (Nachmanides) comments that Yosef's leadership role in Egypt was a disgrace to the Egyptians. They had been forced to accept the reality that this former slave was the only person in the country fit to head the grain collection and distribution operation. It was a person who had no known ancestry for whom the only background information on file was jail time. Yosef had told them that he comes from a noble family and that he has eleven brothers. Still, he had no proof to that claim. Thus, his already well established talents of being able to wisely and successfully guide the nation through this rough time was not enough to remove the shame they felt. When Yosef's brothers come Pharoh and his servants are finally uplifted.

A Choson (bridegroom) and Kallah can (bride) have many personal accomplishments. They can even be self-made. Still, it is their roots that give them their full acclaim and others a full appreciation of their accomplishments thus far in life. It is for this reason, that at this time a Choson should show his recognition and appreciation toward his parents so that his Kallah will better appreciate what she is getting. A Kallah, too, should use this opportunity to show her recognition and appreciation to her parents so as to allow her Choson to see the whole person. And what a wonderful celebration it is that we can recognize the Jewish royalty our Choson and Kallah are products of!

May the Jewish monarchy and nobility of today’s families endure and further blossom with this couple.

Copyright 2000 Rabbi Yirmiyahu Benyowitz and MyJewishWedding.com

Grandparental relationships

Bava Basra 128a. The gemara discusses the testimony (being a witness) for a close relative. Mar Bar Rav Ashi notes that a grandchild may testify for a grandfather. The gemara continues that we do not pasken that way. The Rashbam and Rashi (as brought by Tosfos) defines this as not being the halacha for all descendents. Tosfos though brings the R"i that disagrees when many generations intercede. It is possible that this is a question of why the halacha is not like this. Is grandparenthood about loyalty or personal relationship.

Marraige and Bnos Tzlofchod

Bava Basra 119b. The gemara tells us that  all 5 daughters of Tzlofchod had many positive attributes, but still none got married younger than 40 years old. They each married hagunim. The gemara continues that because they were righteous women, despite their ages upon marraige, they still had children.

I was discussing this with someone and he suggested that apparently even in the midbar, there was a Shidduch Crisis. I instead suggested that the gemara has a different take. Despite their great attributes, they were undesirable for marraige as daughters of Tzlofchod, a person who was executed for chilul Shabbos. Then they were awarded 4 portions in Eretz Yisroel (per the gemara in Bava Basra). Now suddenly they were wealthy and had many suitors who may have overlooked their family situation. Thus, the gemara informs us that they still insisted on marrying hagunim and not acting on the newfound attention that the wealth brought from prospective suitors.

Rashbam's twist on a famous story

Bava Basra 120a. The gemara tells the famous story of Yocheved, the mother of Moshe Rabeinu being delivered "Bein Hachomos," as Yaakov and his family enter Mitzrayim. The traditional story is that she was born as they were walking through the wall. For women who have given birth, imagining this story as commonly told is both difficult and maybe even inspiring. The Rashbam though defines that Yocheved was conceived outside of Mitzrayim, but only the she came to Mitzrayim (Bein Hachomos) in her mother's womb, but that she was born in Mitzrayim. The gemara he says is only figuratively balanced in he conception "baderech" as it is figuratively birth "Bein Hachomos."

This week's parsha

1. Beraishis 45:15. Yosef and Binyamin cry on each other's shoulders. Rashi tells us this was for the destructions of the Bais Hamikdash and the Mishkan that were on their respective areas of Eretz Yisroel. (a) Why is this peshuto shel mikra - the basic premise of Rashi? (b) Were all these detructions so predetermined; how did bechira on this work?

2. Berasishis 46:1. Yaakov leaves his home on the way to Mitzrayim and on the way stops in Beer Sheva to bring korbanos to the G-d of his father Yitzchok. Seemingly his home was where Yitzchok had lived since that is where he settled. Why not bring the korbanos there? The Rashbam points out that he brought the korbanos in Beer Sheva because his father Yitzchok had also brought korbanos there. This raises an interesting question that requires additional investigation. Since two avos brought significant korbanos in Beer Sheva, what is its religious significance?

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