Parsha Vayeyshev

Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

The story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife has several earlier versions in Egyptian literature. But the earlier versions are, rather like European tales of bored wealthy or powerful women, deal exclusively with sexual betrayal. The Biblical narrative is more concerned with the morality and self-control rather than sex games. Joseph succeeds in rising from being an ordinary slave, to becoming…

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Parsha Vayeyshev

Dreams

There are lots of dreams in the book of Bereishit (Genesis). Last week we read about Jacob’s dream as he ran away from his brother. This week we read about Joseph and his dreams as well as those of the Egyptian Pharaoh and his head baker and his sommelier. Dreams are an important part of all of our lives. But…

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Parsha Vayishlah

Run or Stand?

Yaakov, Jacob, had run away from his brother Esau, who had threatened to kill him. He had spent some thirty years with Lavan, his uncle, and was now returning home with his wives, his children, his flocks and herds. He sent messengers ahead to tell his brother he was coming in peace and was not asking for anything (regardless of…

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Parsha Vayishlah

Dinah

When Yaakov and his family arrive in the Land of Israel, his only daughter Dina goes out to look around this new area. Shehem one of the local Hittite princes sees her. He abducts her and rapes her. However, unusually, Shehem falls in love with Dinah and asks Hamor his father to go and negotiate a marriage. When Hamor arrives,…

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Parsha Vayishlah

Was Yaakov over protective?

Yaakov returns from Aram to the Land of Israel with all his family. He makes peace with his brother Esav and he sets about re-claiming his territory. Yaakov’s only daughter Dina goes out to visit the local towns. The expression “to go out” has two meanings. It can be simply to go and see. But it can also mean to…

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Parsha Vayishlah

Brothers!

The Torah is full of stories of sibling rivalry, of brothers fighting brothers. It started with Cain and Abel and it continued on through Ishmael and Isaac, Jacob and Esau and Jacob’s twelve sons. The splits amongst the tribes continued. During the period of the Judges tribes competed with tribes, sometimes killing each other, as in the case of Yiftah…

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