The Torah: a Women's Commentary
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Sfas Emes YESHIVAT HAR ETZION He Parsha Begins: "Vayigash Eilav Yehuda"
Vayigash 5765 Volume XII Number 14 Toras Aish Thoughts From Across the Torah Spectrum which would not apply to those who didn't live and own RABBI DOV KRAMER land in Egypt), it would be consistent with the notion that Taking a Closer Look Yosef was trying to help others do the right thing. And we would expect that, put in a position of power and nd Yosef said to his brothers, 'please come authority, Yosef would make every effort to reshape closer to me,' and they came closer, and he Egyptian society, and those living in it, to better follow “Asaid, 'I am Yosef your brother, whom you sold G-d's commandments. to Egypt" (Beraishis 45:4). Rashi explains that after One of the reasons given for the mitzvah of seeing that his brothers were taken aback after he had "milah" is that it minimizes the desire for physical identified himself, Yosef asked them to come closer so relations. Adultery (and other forbidden relations) are that he could show them that he was circumcised. One included in the 7 categories of commandments that of the questions many of the commentators ask is what non-Jews are required to keep, and the Egyptians were purpose showing that he was circumcised would serve, said to be "awash in licentiousness" (see Rashi on since (as Rashi pointed out on 41:55) Yosef had forced 20:15). The Yefas To'ar therefore suggests that the all of the Egyptians to become circumcised before he Egyptians weren't required (by Yosef) to physically was would sell them food. -
Parshat Vayigash January 7, 2017 Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
PARSHAT VAYIGASH JANUARY 7, 2017 RABBI VERNON KURTZ The custom to complete the weekly public readings of the Torah every year on the holiday of Simchat Torah finds its roots in Babylonia of the Talmudic Era. The Torah was divided into 54 sections or Parshiyot to allow for the completion of the yearly cycle with the reading of one Parshah every week. This week’s Torah portion, Vayigash, follows the story immediately told in last week’s Miketz. But, the Rabbis seem to be enamored with the old-time serial movies or the modern-day soap operas by leaving us last week with a cliff-hanger of a story and asking us to wait a week to complete it. Last week, towards the end of our Torah reading, the divining cup of the Viceroy of Egypt, Joseph, is found in the food sack of Benjamin. We know that it was a set-up by Joseph as he had instructed his servants to bring Benjamin back to Egypt and send the other brothers on their way to Canaan. The brothers refuse to leave the side of their young brother and are all brought back to stand before Joseph. At that point, the Torah reading last week ends and we are left on the edge of our seats to find out what happened. If this was a mystery novel many of us would not put it down until we knew what had occurred or we would look at the end of the book to find out what happened. Rabbi Zev Leff asks: “Why did the previous Parshah have to end with such a cliff- hanger? Why didn’t the Torah simply extend Parshat Miketz a few more verses and include the resolution of this story? Why do we have to wait a whole week -
Parshat Hashavua Yeshivat Har Etzion PARASHAT HASHAVUA
Parshat HaShavua Yeshivat Har Etzion PARASHAT HASHAVUA PARASHAT VAYIGASH By Rav Yaakov Meidan These are the Names of the Children of Israel – Names and Numbers Our parasha contains the list of the seventy members of Yaakov's house who came to Egypt. The list is rife with difficulties. I) Chetzron and Chamul These two sons of Peretz son of Yehuda are mentioned among those who descended to Egypt during the years of famine. The commentaries have already raised the difficulties concerning the closeness of events in Yehuda's life, which take place during the twenty two years that elapse between the sale of Yosef and the descent of Yaakov's family to Egypt. It will be recalled that Joseph was seventeen at the time that he was sold, thirty at the time of his appointment as viceroy, and that a further seven years of plenty and two years of famine passed before the descent to Egypt. During the course of those twenty-two years, Yehuda married the daughter of Shua, and begat Er and Onan. These two sons consecutively married Tamar and then died. 'Many days passed' before Tamar was deemed able to marry Shela. In the meantime, Yehuda married Tamar and begat Peretz. Peretz himself grew up, married, and begat Chetzron and Chamul who were among those who descended to Egypt. In other words, during the course of twenty two years, three generations were born to Yehuda and came of age, not to mention the 'many days' that Tamar waited in vain for the levirate marriage to take place. -
Tamar: Conscious Choices and Choosing One's Own Destiny
Tamar: Conscious Choices and Choosing One’s Own Destiny Parashat Vayeishev (Genesis 38: 1 – 30) Do you make conscious choices? One of our Torah heroines surely did. Tamar made a conscious choice following the deaths of her husband, Judah’s son Er, Judah’s next son Onan, and Judah’s wife Hirah. Tamar became a childless widow and it seemed as though Judah had no plan to allow his youngest son Shelah to marry Tamar, as biblical law mandated. Judah claimed that Shelah was too young and he could not risk losing another son. However, our heroine Tamar needed a child in order to claim a true stake in the household of Judah. So, she tricked her father-in-law Judah into sleeping with her during his bereavement. Posing as a harlot, Judah solicited Tamar’s services, willingly giving Tamar his signet seal, his cord and his staff, all of which clearly identified him when she would later proclaim Judah’s paternity for her twin sons Perez and Zerah. Not for love or for lust, but rather for a legacy into the future, Tamar made a conscious choice. She took initiative. She changed destiny. And, ironically, Judah admitted, “She is more in the right than I!” (Genesis 38:26) Judah had refused the rights of levirate marriage to Tamar. It all returns to making choices. Each woman on our sisterhood roster has made a conscious choice to join sisterhood. We are grateful to the women who choose to join sisterhood and our congregation, for choosing the path of leadership, and for sharing mitzvah time. -
And This Is the Blessing)
V'Zot HaBerachah (and this is the blessing) Moses views the Promised Land before he dies את־ And this is the blessing, in which blessed Moses, the man of Elohim ְ ו ז ֹאת Deuteronomy 33:1 Children of Israel before his death. C-MATS Question: What were the final words of Moses? These final words of Moses are a combination of blessing and prophecy, in which he blesses each tribe according to its national responsibilities and individual greatness. Moses' blessings were a continuation of Jacob's, as if to say that the tribes were blessed at the beginning of their national existence and again as they were about to begin life in Israel. Moses directed his blessings to each of the tribes individually, since the welfare of each tribe depended upon that of the others, and the collective welfare of the nation depended upon the success of them all (Pesikta). came from Sinai and from Seir He dawned on them; He shined forth from יהוה ,And he (Moses) said 2 Mount Paran and He came with ten thousands of holy ones: from His right hand went a fiery commandment for them. came to Israel from Seir and יהוה ?present the Torah to the Israelites יהוה Question: How did had offered the Torah to the descendants of יהוה Paran, which, as the Midrash records, recalls that Esau, who dwelled in Seir, and to the Ishmaelites, who dwelled in Paran, both of whom refused to accept the Torah because it prohibited their predilections to kill and steal. Then, accompanied by came and offered His fiery Torah to the Israelites, who יהוה ,some of His myriads of holy angels submitted themselves to His sovereignty and accepted His Torah without question or qualification. -
Wordplay in Genesis 2:25-3:1 and He
Vol. 42:1 (165) January – March 2014 WORDPLAY IN GENESIS 2:25-3:1 AND HE CALLED BY THE NAME OF THE LORD QUEEN ATHALIAH: THE DAUGHTER OF AHAB OR OMRI? YAH: A NAME OF GOD THE TRIAL OF JEREMIAH AND THE KILLING OF URIAH THE PROPHET SHEPHERDING AS A METAPHOR SAUL AND GENOCIDE SERAH BAT ASHER IN RABBINIC LITERATURE PROOFTEXT THAT ELKANAH RATHER THAN HANNAH CONSECRATED SAMUEL AS A NAZIRITE BOOK REVIEW: ONKELOS ON THE TORAH: UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE BOOK REVIEW: JPS BIBLE COMMENTARY: JONAH LETTER TO THE EDITOR www.jewishbible.org THE JEWISH BIBLE QUARTERLY In cooperation with THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE JEWISH AGENCY AIMS AND SCOPE The Jewish Bible Quarterly provides timely, authoritative studies on biblical themes. As the only Jewish-sponsored English-language journal devoted exclusively to the Bible, it is an essential source of information for anyone working in Bible studies. The Journal pub- lishes original articles, book reviews, a triennial calendar of Bible reading and correspond- ence. Publishers and authors: if you would like to propose a book for review, please send two review copies to BOOK REVIEW EDITOR, POB 29002, Jerusalem, Israel. Books will be reviewed at the discretion of the editorial staff. Review copies will not be returned. The Jewish Bible Quarterly (ISSN 0792-3910) is published in January, April, July and October by the Jewish Bible Association , POB 29002, Jerusalem, Israel, a registered Israe- li nonprofit association (#58-019-398-5). All subscriptions prepaid for complete volume year only. The subscription price for 2014 (volume 42) is $60. Our email address: [email protected] and our website: www.jewishbible.org . -
VAYIGASH (And He Approached)
VAYIGASH (And He Approached) GENESIS (B‟RESHIYT 44:18 – 47:27) INTRODUCTION: 1. Despite the fact that Judah‟s history is checkered with unwise decisions, he acts admirably. a. Consider his choice of wife; his dealings with Tamar; his betrayal of Joseph. b. He made himself surety for Benjamin and acts appropriately when needed. 2. As far as he was concerned, to act in such a way was putting his life on the line. a. He still understands this man to be an Egyptian lord with life and death in his hand. b. Offers himself as a slave not knowing the one he spoke to was his lost brother. c. To offer himself as a slave in Benjamin‟s place reminds of Moses who said: “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. But now, if you will forgive their sin - but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.” – Exodus 32:31-32 3. In both cases, the picture is the one is willing to sacrifice themselves on behalf of Israel. a. Reminiscent of something Paul, from tribe of Benjamin (Rom. 11:1), said: “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Messiah for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” – Romans 9:2-3 4. Ultimate example of the one who willingly sacrifices himself for the sake of brother is Y‟shua. a. As tribe of Judah, He made Himself surety to the Father for all Israel (e.g. -
1 the Story of Yehuda and Tamar by David Silverberg Towards The
The Story of Yehuda and Tamar By David Silverberg Towards the middle of Parashat Vayeshev we come upon one of the more perplexing episodes narrated in the Torah: the story of Yehuda, his three sons, and his daughter-in-law Tamar. The Torah (Bereishit, chapter 38) tells that Yehuda, the fourth son of Yaakov, begot three sons, named Er, Onan and Sheila. Er, the eldest son, married a woman named Tamar and died childless soon thereafter. Yehuda then instructed the second son, Onan, to marry his widowed sister-in-law, seemingly in fulfillment of the mitzva of yibum , or the levirate marriage, introduced much later in the Torah, in the Book of Devarim (25:5-10). This mitzva obligates one to marry his deceased brother's wife if the deceased bore her no children, and forbids the widow from marrying anyone else. (In practice, in such circumstances the brother performs a ceremony called chalitza absolving both the brother and the widow from this obligation.) Accordingly, Onan married Tamar, but he, too, died without children. Yehuda feared that his third son, Sheila, would suffer the same fate as his two older brothers, and therefore refused to allow his marriage to Tamar, despite the levirate obligation. Tamar, fearful that she would never bear children, posed as a prostitute and stood along the road as Yehuda traveled, so that he would hire her services and she would conceive from him. Yehuda indeed engaged in relations with Tamar, completely unaware of her identity, and gave her several personal items as collateral to be returned when he delivers payment. -
From the Rabbi
WINTER NOVEMBER 2017-FEBRUARY 2018 Chai Lights CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL • BERKELEY From the Rabbi Questions & Answers: Halakha This year during our very joyous celebrations of Simchat Torah, we had the unique P.9-10 opportunity to honor some of our shul’s most devoted life-long learners: Bella Barany, Yaakov Harari, Jory Gessow, and Preston Grant. Each has exemplified an unrelenting Preston Grant has been an independ- Laws of Chanukah attachment to Torah learning and ex- ent learner of Tanach for many years. P.11-12 hibited their resolute commitment to If you visit his home office, you will mastering areas of Torah study. quickly be struck by various charts, hanging around the room, which out- In my eleven years at CBI, I can line the literary structure of several hardly identify a single class that was chapters and books of Tanach. This not attended by Bella Barany as well is in keeping with Preston’s deep in- as by Yaakov Harari. Bella, as some volvement in CBI’s class on Psalms Gan Shalom P.04 know, learns at CBI’s Beit Midrash on that took place in our community long a daily basis, sometimes with a study ago, as well as Preston’s critical in- New Members P.06-07 partner and sometimes on her own. volvement in helping to create and launch M. Victoria Sutton’s classes on CBI Classes P.14-15 Besides attending classes at CBI, it the books of Tanach. seems like Yaakov attends any Jew- Calendar P.16-18 ish-related lecture at UC Berkeley as On the Shabbat right after Simchat well as other local Jewish institutions. -
Parshat Vayigash 5771 by Guy Izhak Austrian December 11, 2010
Parshat Vayigash 5771 By Guy Izhak Austrian December 11, 2010 This week, we are pleased to welcome guest writer, Dvar Tzedek alumnus Guy Austrian. Rock by rock, stone by stone, each one passed hand to hand along a human chain of young Jews and indigenous Guatemalans: our energy was high on this beautiful day during our AJWS delegation to rural Guatemala. We cleared a riverbed beneath shady leaves near the local school and later sat side by side, resting on the grassy banks and contemplating the footbridge we would soon build there together. I chatted with a young woman who worked at the school, trying out my rusty Spanish. She was curious about our group, and I did my best to explain who we were. I was feeling good about the human common ground we were establishing through our work together, until she demanded: “So why don’t the Jews believe in Jesus?” Suddenly I felt all our commonality hit a wall, one that would always divide us. This irreducible core of identity that separates us from the other peoples of the world gets its fateful start in Parshat Vayigash, in which the Jewish people become a collective entity for the first time: “The total people of the household of Jacob who came to Egypt numbered seventy.”1 Just seventy people—and right away they are set apart for special treatment. While Joseph is busy appropriating the livestock, land and labor of the starving Egyptians, he provides choice land and bread to the House of Israel, which becomes a numerous and prosperous people in Goshen.2 Later, the Egyptians will subject Israel to suspicion, oppression and slavery—one of the founding paradigms of Jewish nationhood. -
Re-Examining the Levirate Marriage in the Bible Fung Tat Yeung a Thesis
Re-examining the Levirate Marriage in the Bible Fung Tat Yeung A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Divinity Graduate Division of Theology © The Chinese University of Hong Kong July 2008 The Chinese University of Hong Kong holds the copyright of this thesis. Any person(s) intending to use a part or whole of the materials in this thesis in a proposed publication must seek copyright released from the Dean of the Graduate School. IQj Abstract of Thesis entitled: Re-examining the Levirate Marriage in the Bible Submitted by Fung Tat Yeung For the degree of Master of Divinity at The Chinese University of Hong Kong in July 2008 Levirate marriage is probably one of the most incomprehensible biblical themes to nowadays' audience, who tends to consider it incestuous. In the Old Testament, Deuteronomy has enacted it as a law obliging a man to marry the childless widow of his deceased brother, and at the same time obliging a childless widow to be remarried inside her deceased husband's family. In the New Testament, the Sadducees and the Pharisees disagree with each other on the problem of a widow's remarriage. The Sadducees show that they are strict followers of the levirate law, but Paul the former Pharisee, in his Letter to the Romans, makes use of the illustration of a widow's freedom to marry another man to explain the significance of the release from the law. This shows that not all sects of Jews considered levirate marriage as an obligation for both the widow and the levir in the time of the New Testament. -
41 Retelling the Story of Judah and Tamar in The
Ilorin Journal of Religious Studies, (IJOURELS) Vol.4 No.2, 2014, pp.41-52 RETELLING THE STORY OF JUDAH AND TAMAR IN THE TESTAMENT OF JUDAH Felix Opoku-Gyamfi Valley View University Accra – Ghana [email protected] +233-20341-3759, +233-2020-29096 Abstract Many Christians assume that Old Testament documents were „Christianised‟ during the New Testament era, although the process predates the New Testament. This assumption may be premised on the lack of much information about how early Christians re- interpreted Old Testament stories to meet new trends of thinking during the Inter- Testament period. This paper, therefore, focuses on the story of Judah and Tamar in Genesis 38, which is retold in the Testament of Judah to discover the intentions and the worldviews of the author of the Testament of Judah. For the presupposition of this paper, the Testament of Judah will be studied as a Christian document. The other side of the debate that the Testaments are the works of a Jewish author is thus put aside at least for a while in this paper. This is because the Testaments look more like a Christian document than Jewish. As a result, the texts for comparison would be the LXX and the Greek version of theTestaments. The paper utilizes literary analyses of the two passages while it progresses through three main headings; the overall structure of the Testament of Judah, exegesis of the story of Judah and Tamar in both Genesis 38 and The Testament of Judah, an analysis of key characters and a summary of the significant differences between the two stories.