Parshat Vayechi January 14, 2017 16 Tevet, 5777

TORAH Rabbi Jonathan Sacks on Vayechi ARTSCROLL 268 After the death of Jacob, a lie. If Jacob had really said It is clear that the sages Joseph‘s brothers were those words he would have said needed both episodes to HERTZ 180 afraid. Years earlier, when them to Joseph himself, not to the establish the principle. Had he had revealed his true brothers. The time to have done we only known about the HAFTORAH identity to them, he so was on his deathbed in the Sarah case, we could not infer ARTSCROLL 1145 appeared to have forgiven previous chapter. The brothers‘ that it is permitted to tell a them for selling him as a tale was a —white lie.“ Its primary white lie. God did not tell a HERTZ 191 slave. Yet the brothers were aim was not to deceive but to white lie about Sarah. He not wholly reassured. ease a potentially explosive merely did not tell Abraham Times Maybe Joseph did not mean situation. Perhaps that is why the whole truth. Had we only what he said. Perhaps he Joseph wept, understanding that known about the case of Candle Lighting 4:32 pm still harbored resentment. his brothers still thought him Joseph‘s brothers, we could Might the only reason he capable of revenge. The sages not have inferred that what Mincha 4:30 pm had not yet taken revenge derived a principle from this text. they did was permitted. Hashkama 8:00 am was respect for Jacob. Mutar le-shanot mipnei ha- Perhaps it was forbidden, and There was a convention in shalom: —It is permitted to tell an that is why Joseph wept. The Youth Minyan 8:30 am those days that there was untruth (literally, —to change“ the fact that God himself had to be no settling of scores facts) for the sake of peace.“ A done something similar is Parsha Shiur 8:30 am between siblings in the white lie is permitted in Jewish what led the sages to say that lifetime of the father. We law. This is not the only place the brothers were justified. Main 9:00 am know this from an earlier where the sages invoked this episode. After Jacob had principle. They even attributed it What is at stake here is an Beit Midrash 9:15 am taken his brother‘s blessing, to God himself. When the angels important feature of the moral Esau says, —The days of came to visit Abraham to tell him life, despite the fact that we Mincha 4:15 pm mourning for my father are and Sarah that they were about to seem to be speaking of no near; then I will kill my have a child, —Sarah laughed to more than social niceties: Shalosh Seudot/ 4:40 pm brother Jacob“ (Gen. herself as she thought, ”After I am tact. The late Sir Isaiah Berlin Ari Sacher 27:41). So the brothers worn out and my lord is old, will I pointed out that not all values come before Joseph and now have this pleasure?‘“ God coexist in a kind of platonic Shabbos Ends 5:41 pm say: —Your father left these then asked Abraham, —Why did harmony. His favorite instructions before he died: Sarah laugh and say, ”Will I really example was freedom and R‘ Reisman Video 7:30 pm ”This is what you are to say have a child, now that I am equality. You can have a free to Joseph: I ask you to old?‘“ (Gen. 18:12-13). God did economy but the result will be Sun. Jan. 15 7:30/8:30 am forgive your brothers; the not mention that Sarah believed inequality. You can have sins and the wrongs they that not only was she too old to economic equality, Mon. & Thurs. 6:35/7:45 am committed in treating you have a child. So was Abraham communism, but the result so badly.‘ Now please (this turned out to be quite will be a loss of freedom. In Tues., Wed. & Fri. 6:45/7:45 am forgive the sins of the untrue: Abraham had six more the world as currently Mincha 4:40 pm servants of the God of your children after Sarah‘s death). The configured, moral conflict is father.“ When their sages inferred that God did not unavoidable. This was an Latest Times for message came to him, mention it because he did not important fact, though one Shema/Shemoneh Esrei Joseph wept. (Gen. 50:16- want there to be bad feeling about which Judaism seems 17) The text makes it as between husband and wife. Here never to have been in doubt. plain as possible that the too the sages said: it is permitted There is, for example, a Jan. 14 9:40/10:28 am story they told Joseph was to change for the sake of peace. powerful moment in Tanakh Jan. 21 9:40/10:28 am Kiddush Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by Lillian & Gary Chubak Next Shabbat is sponsored Shemot in memory of his father by Benjamin Chubak z“l Candle Lighting 4:40 pm Great Neck and by Beth & Marc Gottlieb Mincha 4:40 pm Synagogue in honor of Ari Sacher 26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck, NY 11023 (516) 487-6100 Shabbat Announcements Vayechi 5777

when King David‘s son Absalom mounts a coup d‘etat against his himself. So to praise the bride was not making an objective father. David was forced to flee. Eventually there was a battle statement that could be tested empirically. It was simply between Absalom‘s troops and David‘s. Absalom, who was endorsing the bridegroom‘s choice. It was a way of celebrating handsome and had fine hair, was caught by it when it became the couple‘s happiness. Courtesies are often like this. Telling entangled in the branches of a tree. Left handing there, Joab, someone how much you like the gift they have brought, even if captain of David‘s army, killed him. When David heard the news you don‘t, or saying to someone, —How lovely to see you“ when he was overcome with grief: —The king was shaken. He went up you were hoping to avoid them, is more like good manners to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: ”O than an attempt to deceive. We all know this, and thus no harm my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died is done, as it would be if we were to tell a lie when substantive instead of you–O Absalom, my son, my son!‘“ (2 Samuel 18:33). interests are at stake. Joab is brutal in his words to the king: —Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life…You love More fundamental and philosophical is an important Midrash those who hate you and hate those who love you…Now go out about a conversation between God and the angels as to and encourage your men“ (2 Sam. 19:6-8). David‘s grief at the whether human beings should be created at all: Rabbi Shimon loss of his son conflicts with his responsibilities as head of state said: When God was about to create Adam, the ministering and his loyalty to the troops who have saved his life. Which angels split into contending groups. Some said, ”Let him be comes first: his duties as a father or as a king? created.‘ Others said, ”Let him not be created.‘ That is why it is written: ”Mercy and truth collided, righteousness and peace The existence of conflicting values means that the kind of clashed‘ (Psalms 85:11). Mercy said, ”Let him be created, morality we adopt and the society we create depend not only on because he will do merciful deeds.‘ Truth said, ”Let him not be the values we embrace but also on the way we prioritize them. created, for he will be full of falsehood.‘ Righteousness said, Prioritizing equality over freedom creates one kind of society œ ”Let him be created, for he will do righteous deeds.‘ Peace said, Soviet communism for example. Prioritizing freedom over ”Let him not be created, for he will never cease quarrelling.‘ equality leads to market economics. People in both societies may What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He took truth and value the same things but they rank them differently in the scale threw it to the ground. The angels said, ”Sovereign of the of values, and thus how they choose when the two conflict. That universe, why do You do thus to Your own seal, truth? Let truth is what is at stake in the stories of Sarah and Joseph‘s brothers. arise from the ground.‘ Thus it is written, ”Let truth spring up Truth and peace are both values, but which do we choose when from the earth‘ (Psalms 85:12). This is a challenging text. What they conflict? Not everyone among the rabbinic sages agreed. exactly were the angels saying? What does it mean to say that There is, for example, a famous argument between the schools of —God took truth and threw it to the ground?“ And what Hillel and Shammai as to what to say about the bride at a happened to the claim made by the angel of Peace that humans wedding. The custom was to say that —The bride is beautiful and —will never cease quarrelling“? I interpret it as meaning that graceful.“ Members of the school of Shammai, however, were humans are destined to conflict so long as contending groups not prepared to say so if, in their eyes, the bride was not each claim to have a monopoly of the truth. The only way they beautiful and graceful. For them the supreme value was the will learn to live at peace is by realizing that they, finite as all Torah‘s insistence on truth: —Keep far from falsehood“ (Ex. 23:7). humans are, will never in this life achieve truth as it is in The school of Hillel did not accept this. Who was to judge whether Heaven. For us, truth is always partial, fragmentary, the view the bride was beautiful and graceful? Surely the bridegroom from somewhere and not, as philosophers sometimes say, —the view from nowhere“. Great Neck Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus Welcomes your questions about mikvah, This deep insight is, I believe, the reason why the Torah is observance of taharat mishpacha (halacha relating multi-perspectival, why Tanakh contains so many different to married life) and women‘s health, as it connects kinds of voices, why Mishnah and Gemarra are structured to Jewish law. Reach out to her at: around argument, and why Midrash is built on the premise that Phone: 516.415.1111 Email: [email protected]. there are —seventy faces“ to Torah. No other civilization I know All conversations and emails are kept confidential. has had so subtle and complex an understanding of the nature of truth. Nor has any other so valued peace. Judaism is not and never was pacifist. National self-defense sometimes requires Great Neck Synagogue war. But Isaiah and Micah were the first visionaries of a world 26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck , NY 11023 in which —nation shall not lift up sword against nation.“ Isaiah is 516-487-6100 the poet laureate of peace. Given the choice, when it came to interpersonal relations the sages valued peace over truth, not least because truth can flourish in peace while it is often the Rabbi Dale Polakoff, Rabbi first casualty in war. So the brothers were not wrong to tell Rabbi Ian Lichter, Assistant Rabbi Joseph a white lie for the sake of peace within the family. It Dr. Ephraim Wolf, z“l, Rabbi Emeritus reminded them all of the deeper truth that not only their Zeev Kron, Cantor human father, now dead, but also their heavenly Father, Eleazer Schulman, z“l, Cantor Emeritus eternally alive, wants the people of the covenant to be at Rabbi Sholom Jensen, Youth Director peace, for how can Jews be at peace with the world if they are Zehava & Dr. Michael Atlas, Youth Directors not at peace with themselves? Mark Twersky, Executive Director Dr. James Frisch, Assistant Director Dov Sassoon, President Rabbi Jesse Shore, Rabbinic Intern Harold Domnitch, Chairman of the Board Lisa Septimus, Yoetzet Halacha 516-415-1111 THIS WEEKEND @ GNS CHAVERIM CENTER YOUTH EVENTS & CHESED HELP SAVE A LIFE! AIPAC POLICY CONFERENCE AIPAC POLICY CONFERENCE 2017 MARCH 26-28 WASHINGTON, D.C.

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Contact Rabbi Jensen at [email protected]. ANNOUNCEMENTS Rabbi Polakoff‘s shabbos drasha through 5777 MAZAL TOVS & COMMUNITY NEWS is dedicated in memory of PINCHAS BEN YOSEPH For other such opportunities please contact Mazal Tov to Lauren & Asher Abehsera on the birth of their Howard Wolf 212-843-4668 daughter.

IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO IS MOVING INTO THE Mazal Tov to Dr. Paul & Drora Brody, who will be Guests of GREAT NECK AREA PLEASE LET THE OFFICE KNOW. Honor at the 32nd Annual Journal Melava Malka of Yeshiva Kesser Torah of Kew Gardens Hills, on Jan. 14th. OFFICE HOURS FOR RABBI POLAKOFF Mazal Tov to Debbie & Dr. Hal Chadow on the Wednesdays 10 am - 12 pm engagement of their son Aaron to Annelle Amsellem, Thursdays 1 pm - 3 pm daughter of Sophia & Yosi Etias and Jack Amsellem. He is available at other times by appointment and can always be reached by email at [email protected], or on his cell Mazal Tov to Mark & Beth Gersten on the Bat Mitzvah of his at 516-637-3674. granddaughter, Rivkah Temima, daughter of Rabbi Eric & Tamar Gersten. GNS GUEST SPEAKER SERIES Mazal Tov to Regina & Joe Gil on the Bar Mitzvah of their This Shabbat, Jan. 14th we will host guest speaker grandson Asher Rosenblatt, son of Daniela & Avi Ari Sacher, a rocket scientist who was a member of the team Rosenblatt. that designed the Iron Dome. He will speak following davening in the main sanctuary. He will also speak at an expanded Mazal Tov to Randi & Arthur Luxenburg on the upcoming wedding of the daughter, Jacqueline to Jonathan Spiegel. Seudah Shlishit in lieu of the Gemara Shiur. Mazal Tov to Karen Lewkowitz Miller & Monte Miller on the Additionally, all Middle & High School students are invited to a birth of a grandson Benjamin Alexander, born to their children special Oneg with Ari Sacher, at GNS on this Friday night, at Ilana & Neil Ruben. 7:30 pm. Mazal Tov to George & Gila Sameyah on the birth of a PESACH SCOPE MAGAZINE DEADLINE granddaughter, born to their children, Bonnie & Daniel Please submit all SCOPE magazine articles, recipes, photos, Zarabi. ads, sponsorships and any other material by January 30th to Diane Rein at [email protected]. Thank you! Nadine Eckstein would like to thank Rabbis Polakoff, MAH-JONGG CARDS Lichter, Sharon Goldwyn and the entire community for their Pre-order your mah-jongg cards through the Sisterhood by outpouring of support following the passing of her sister, Jan. 22. Prices are $8/Standard Card and $9/Large Print Card. Malka Shapiro. FLORENCE SCHAFFER SCHOLARSHIP Saturday, 16 Tevet Cindy Hodkin is chairing our Florence Schaffer Memorial Fund Gary Chubak for Benjamin Chubak Scholarship. If you know a student deserving of financial Dorothy Reiser for Theodore Cohen assistance, please contact her for all inquiries at Ron Malen for Eli Malen [email protected]. All information is discreet. Henry Schwartz for Max Schwartz Sunday, 17 Tevet NORTH SHORE MIKVAH ASSOCIATION Perry Schneider for Ann Colton Please Save the Date: Annual Fundraiser for the North Shore Norman Fisher for Molly Fisher Mikvah Association will take place on Tuesday, May 16th at Cheryl Sperber for Isaac Forst 7:30PM, featuring Elie Salomon, founding board member of Y Ester Noy for Rachel Nir the organization 'Yesh Tikvah'. Please make sure to mark your Grace Oster for Joseph Abraham Oster calendars for a very moving evening for the women of our A Monday, 18 Tevet community as Elie presents a discussion entitled: "Pitfalls, Mahin Aryeh for Malka Aryeh Perseverance and Ultimately Parenthood: One woman's story H Leslie Kahn for Naomi Kahn of persistence and how you can help others." Michelle Berman for Naomi Kahn Featured boutique: Threads Linen R Trudy Jettelson for Lena Sirota Tuesday, 19 Tevet AIPAC POLICY CONFERENCE 2017 Z Harvey Ishofsky for Morris Ishofsky Join the growing list of over 80 GNS members attending the Judy Hoffman for Frances Karbowitz AIPAC Policy Conference on March 26-28, 2017 in E Stephen Karbowitz for Frances Karbowitz Washington, D.C. Speak to Steve Blumner 516.639.8941 or Wednesday, 20 Tevet [email protected]. I Garce Oster for Greda Horowitz Vivian Kron for Salim Mahlab YOUTH NEWS T Fred Pomerantz for Mina Pomerantz There will be no HS program this Saturday night as the Boys Nathaniel Weisel for Estelle Sechster Mini Shabbaton is using the gym. Thursday, 21 Tevet Lev Dynkin for Rasha Dynkin UPCOMING EVENTS Semyon Dynkin for Rasha Dynkin AT GREAT NECK SYNAGOGUE Helaine Helmreich for Dorothy Gewertz January 13: Friday night Oneg at GNS Helaine Helmreich for Perry Gewertz January 14: Guest Speaker Ari Sacher Arnold Swartz for Irma Swartz January 14: Saturday Night Film: In Search of Peace Friday, 22 Tevet January 17: Renewal Community Awareness Event Arnie Flatow for Miriam Flatow January 25: Chaverim Center Anita Beretz for Seigfried Reischenberg