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

This week enter a new secular year, 2009. With the beginning of the secular New Year many different lists begin to appear—who died in the last year; ten most important events; ten worst movies and ten best movies; fashion do’s and don’ts and of course lists and lists of predictions about the year to come. The secular New Year season invites personal resolutions and some minimal soul searching but the contrast between the Jewish New Year and the secular New Year is great. All the lists and headlines, lists of people of the year, infamous and famous keep us all occupied with the shallow, surface pop culture idea of reflection. Not the deep and important accounting of our souls, “cheshbon hanefesh” we Jews engage in each Rosh Hashanah.

But this week’s Torah portion, Vayigash, can help us reframe the secular New Year in spiritual terms. This week in our unfolding Biblical narrative, Joseph is reunited with his brothers. They have come to Egypt to escape famine and the economic turmoil that results. Joseph now second in command of all Egypt recognizes them and has brought them to an audience with them. They do not recognize him. Joseph uses his Egyptian disguise to hide from them and he manipulates them a bit with his own game. It seems he is taking revenge after all these years asking questions about their father, and his brother Benjamin and even holding his full brother Benjamin in custody. When his brother Judah offers himself as a pledge for his brother and shows such concern for their elderly father, Jacob, something inside of Joseph changes.

He sees that his brothers have changed from that time long ago when they sold him into slavery. Joseph at that moment can no longer contain himself and reveals himself to his brothers much to their astonishment.

This deep reconciliation with family despite the past shows how people can and do change in their life times. The brothers and Joseph have both been shaped by their lives and the times that they lived in. And Joseph acknowledges and forgives in a single moment. He says, “Now do not be distressed or reproach yourselves because you sold me hither it was to save life that God sent me ahead of you” (Gen. 45:5). Joseph acknowledges the role of the Eternal in his life.

This is important during difficult times especially and difficult moments in our own lives. Joseph acknowledges his faith and strength that he has received from his relationship to the Holy One of Blessing. And Joseph is willing to give credit not to his own clever ways but to a Higher Power that showers blessings upon him. In turn these Divine blessings will be shared with his own family.

Joseph who was once a stranger in a foreign land and became an essential part of the landscape of Egypt will share his blessings with his family who he brings down to Egypt to be with him. This is affirmed by the Pharaoh. Thus in economically challenging times we are taught to share with our loved ones and to care for one another. Joseph creates a new community for himself. One that will help Joseph navigate between his authentic Hebrew self and the Egyptian world he works and lives in.

Even as we enter 2009 and we are in similar economic difficulties we can draw lessons from Joseph. Learn to forgive. Learn to reconcile with the past and with loved ones. Create a loving community around you that can be of support and one where you can support others. And don’t be afraid to explore the spirituality of your ancestors as a help and aid, to bring comfort to your fears and grounding when the New Year seems uncertain. All of these help Joseph and his brothers and his fathers to endure.

Happy New Year.

Posted by Jimmy at December 30, 2008 01:45 PM