A thought on Parshas Vayigash
"...teshvu b'eretz Goshen...""...settle in the land of Goshen..." (46:34)Yosef, serving as viceroy in Egypt, helped prepare his father and brothers for a long sojourn in that land, which was to be the first national exile of our nation. It is clear that Yosef used all of his skills of leadership in helping his family make plans to endure their exile.
The Ralbag writes that the above verse shows the great foresight, and insight, of Yosef. He knew that the Egyptians detested us (as the verse goes on to say). The wisdom of settling the Jews in Goshen, which was a neighboring province largely unoccupied by Egyptians, was based on the theorem that if the Jews would thrive and multiply, this would stir the animosity of their enemies even further. It would be better to stay away from them, and keep to ourselves. The Ralbag posits that if you have antagonists, trying to live among them will only draw more hatred. Settling in Goshen allowed the Jews to keep a distance from their enemies, and their enemies from them.
Throughout the centuries of our exiles, we Jews have often overlooked this principle. We aim to merge and to assimilate, only to find that wherever a Jew settles, he will still be viewed as a Jew, even he has lost his own identity in his own eyes. There has always been an element of security in the ghetto, and as long as we maintain a Jewish identity, which includes living with integrity, we stay together.
This evening, many parts of Jerusalem are blocked off. Thousands of Jews from all over have amassed in Geula on Kikar Shabbos. I was part of a multitude of brethren coming to hear the words of Torah leaders mourning the martyred Jews of Mumbai. It is their sh'loshim today. The heavens are drizzling with a cold rainfall as we have stood in the grey evening, mourning our lost ones. Yet, there is something warm in the air, as I realize that we have, at that moment, drawn close as one entity in our own homeland. At our borders, they are shelling us. Across the globe.... well, you who are out there in chutz la'aretz know of your struggles.
Wishing you a good Shabbos, and try to integrate the words of the Ralbag here. D Fox
The Ralbag writes that the above verse shows the great foresight, and insight, of Yosef. He knew that the Egyptians detested us (as the verse goes on to say). The wisdom of settling the Jews in Goshen, which was a neighboring province largely unoccupied by Egyptians, was based on the theorem that if the Jews would thrive and multiply, this would stir the animosity of their enemies even further. It would be better to stay away from them, and keep to ourselves. The Ralbag posits that if you have antagonists, trying to live among them will only draw more hatred. Settling in Goshen allowed the Jews to keep a distance from their enemies, and their enemies from them.
Throughout the centuries of our exiles, we Jews have often overlooked this principle. We aim to merge and to assimilate, only to find that wherever a Jew settles, he will still be viewed as a Jew, even he has lost his own identity in his own eyes. There has always been an element of security in the ghetto, and as long as we maintain a Jewish identity, which includes living with integrity, we stay together.
This evening, many parts of Jerusalem are blocked off. Thousands of Jews from all over have amassed in Geula on Kikar Shabbos. I was part of a multitude of brethren coming to hear the words of Torah leaders mourning the martyred Jews of Mumbai. It is their sh'loshim today. The heavens are drizzling with a cold rainfall as we have stood in the grey evening, mourning our lost ones. Yet, there is something warm in the air, as I realize that we have, at that moment, drawn close as one entity in our own homeland. At our borders, they are shelling us. Across the globe.... well, you who are out there in chutz la'aretz know of your struggles.
Wishing you a good Shabbos, and try to integrate the words of the Ralbag here. D Fox
posted by Rabbi Dr. Fox at 9:00 AM
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