A Thought On Parshas VaYeshev
A Thought On Parshas VaYeshev
"...va'yimkaru es Yosef la'Yishmaelim..."
"...and they sold Yosef to the Yishmaelim..." (37:28)
The commentaries puzzle over the names of those who brought Yosef down to slavery in Egypt. The Torah calls them Madanim, Midyanim, Yishmaelim, leaving us with no clarity as to who was driving that fateful caravan. Why might the Torah leave us with this trail of tribal names, rather than present the event with precision?
The Bechor Shor offers that in his opinion, all other explanations aside, there was only one single people or nation who led Yosef away. They were the Yishmaelim. They are called, however, by different names in the Chumash because in different times and circumstances, they may take on different identities.
He compares this to our own nation. Sometimes we are called Jews (Yehudim), sometimes Hebrews (Ivriim), sometimes Israelis (Yisraelim) and sometimes Yeshurun - people of integrity. During our travels and our exiles, indeed we have taken on different names, and somewhat different identities and reputations. That may be a product of our dispersion, and it also may be a skill which emerges as we adapt to varying host cultures and environments without losing our core identity.
The Torah alludes here to this fluid and transitory property of our name and identity by telling us that other nations, such as Yishmael, also acquire varying names and identities. It does not seem admirable that we share this quality with that nation. The Bechor Shor hastens to add that this parsha, that of the brothers selling Yosef as a slave, was also not our nation's highest point. This may explain why this lesson is shared here. The name which we make for ourselves as Jews has something to do with the way we conduct ourselves and how we lead our lives, in exile and always.
This is the season for our people to pull together, to correct our alienating ways. May we find the motivation to be loving brothers and sisters once again. Good Shabbos. D Fox
"...va'yimkaru es Yosef la'Yishmaelim..."
"...and they sold Yosef to the Yishmaelim..." (37:28)
The commentaries puzzle over the names of those who brought Yosef down to slavery in Egypt. The Torah calls them Madanim, Midyanim, Yishmaelim, leaving us with no clarity as to who was driving that fateful caravan. Why might the Torah leave us with this trail of tribal names, rather than present the event with precision?
The Bechor Shor offers that in his opinion, all other explanations aside, there was only one single people or nation who led Yosef away. They were the Yishmaelim. They are called, however, by different names in the Chumash because in different times and circumstances, they may take on different identities.
He compares this to our own nation. Sometimes we are called Jews (Yehudim), sometimes Hebrews (Ivriim), sometimes Israelis (Yisraelim) and sometimes Yeshurun - people of integrity. During our travels and our exiles, indeed we have taken on different names, and somewhat different identities and reputations. That may be a product of our dispersion, and it also may be a skill which emerges as we adapt to varying host cultures and environments without losing our core identity.
The Torah alludes here to this fluid and transitory property of our name and identity by telling us that other nations, such as Yishmael, also acquire varying names and identities. It does not seem admirable that we share this quality with that nation. The Bechor Shor hastens to add that this parsha, that of the brothers selling Yosef as a slave, was also not our nation's highest point. This may explain why this lesson is shared here. The name which we make for ourselves as Jews has something to do with the way we conduct ourselves and how we lead our lives, in exile and always.
This is the season for our people to pull together, to correct our alienating ways. May we find the motivation to be loving brothers and sisters once again. Good Shabbos. D Fox
posted by Rabbi Dr. Fox at 8:06 PM
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