Parshat Vayigash; Genesis 44:18 -47:27 By: Rabbi Denise L. Eger

Family reunions can be wonderful. They bring together family members from far and wide and reunite cousins, aunts, uncles, and brothers and sisters. At reunions family lore gets recounted and issues and long suppressed memories often come to the surface.

This week’s portion is a family reunion of sorts. In Parshat Vayigash, Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers. Amid tears of weeping and expressions of astonishment, Joseph insists that they return to the land of Canaan and bring his father back to Egypt with them. They do as he asks in part because they fear the powerful Joseph, vizier to Pharaoh. Will Joseph seek revenge upon the brothers who wronged him so long ago? Joseph tries to reassure them with his words that it was all part of God’s plan but one can’t help but feel the disbelief in the silence of the brothers. Joseph even warns the brothers that they should not become agitated on their journey back to get their father.

Once they arrived, their father Jacob could not believe that after all of these years of mourning, believing his son was dead, his beloved Joseph was alive. Jacob could not fathom that his son was such a powerful man in Egypt. Jacob only believed after he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to bring him to Egypt.

But this wasn’t just a trip of Jacob. It was a trip for the entire clan. All the children and wives and the servants accompany him to Egypt. This isn’t just packing up for a few days or a brief stay. This is Joseph’s invitation to re-settle in Egypt. Joseph wants to reunite the family and establish the house of Jacob in Egypt. Jacob relocates the entire family to Egypt. The Torah tells us 66 went down to Egypt and then when you add in Joseph, his wife and two sons who were born there Jacob’s entire household numbers 70.

As Jacob begins his journey to Egypt, God visits him in a vision at night while encamped in Beersheba. God tries to alleviate any fears Jacob has about his trek. Jacob who had established his domain in the land of Canaan must leave the land promised in the covenant to go down to Egypt. Perhaps Jacob fears that the covenant will be abrogated if he leaves the land of his ancestors. So God reassures him that not only will Jacob and the household of Israel become a “great nation there” but God reveals to Jacob that he will bring him back up from Egypt and that Joseph will be with him when he dies. This helps Jacob to believe that the covenant is still in effect and that Jacob will continue to receive the Divine blessing. Jacob can continue his journey to reunite with his son Joseph.

Family reunions bring all kinds of anxieties and fears.

Joseph goes by chariot to greet his father in the land of Goshen upon his arrival which is where they will settle. Joseph used his power to bring his family to the land of Egypt where he will watch out for them and protect them especially during the years of famine they are facing.

The Torah text is rather silent about these two reunions. In each case—Joseph with his brothers and Joseph and Jacob, their tears and weeping are recorded. The poignancy of these reunions is conveyed. But little is recorded of their interactions. We can only imagine the questions they asked of one another and the things they wished to learn from one another. But we can feel in their tears the joys, hopes, regrets, and years that passed. We can imagine the lost opportunities for creating memories together. In Jacob’s words of reconciliation, “Now I can die, after my having seen your face, because you are still alive,” we hear the relief and the feel the waves of peace wash over Jacob. In this family reunion Jacob attains a level of contentment. His family is made whole through coming together in Egypt.

With the winter holidays and school breaks upon us, many of us will be traveling to visit with family. We will be reunited with aunt and uncles, siblings and cousins. We will have a lot of catching up to do and memories to share and issues that will bubble up. How comforting to know that we are much like our ancestors of Joseph and Jacob and the brothers. We are still trying to attain that sense of unity and wholeness and contentment.
May we be inspired by Joseph and his brothers and his father that we can reach that sacred place!

Posted by Aaron at December 12, 2007 04:11 PM