Ten Minutes of Torah

with

Rabbi Chaim Weiner

 

 

Vayigash – 5767

 

 

בראשית מה:ט

 

מַהֲרוּ וַעֲלוּ אֶל אָבִי וַאֲמַרְתֶּם אֵלָיו כֹּה אָמַר בִּנְךָ יוֹסֵף שָׂמַנִי אֱלֹהִים לְאָדוֹן לְכָל מִצְרָיִם רְדָה אֵלַי אַל תַּעֲמֹד:

 

Genesis 45: 9

 

"Now, hurry, go up to my father and say to him: Thus says your son Joseph, 'God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me without delay.

 

 

 

 

Rashi

 

Go up to my father: The Land of Israel is higher than all the other lands.

 

 

 

QUESTIONS

 

1. What problem is he addressing?

2. The Levush Ora queries: Why didn’t Rashi make this comment above, on the verse ‘the rest of you go up in peace to your father’. [Gen. 44:17]  or the verse ‘let the boy go up with his brothers.’  [Gen. 44:33]  Answer his query.

Clue: the Hebrew word for ‘go up’ is Aliyah !

 

 

 


 

ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK’S QUESTIONS:

 

 

Note: There was no Ten Minutes of Torah last week as I was away at the LIMMUD conference. These are the answers to the questions from two weeks ago.

 

 

  1. What problem in the verse is Rashi Addressing?

 

The story starts with the verse: This is the line of Jacob.  We would expect this to be followed by the story of Jacob, but verse continues with the story of Joseph!

 

  1. Why did Jacob think that he deserved tranquillity?

 

After returning from Haran and making peace with his brother Esau, Jacob surely had the right to think that he could retire in peace. He was wealthy, settled in his land, had made peace with his enemies and was surrounded by his family.

 

  1. What is the idea behind this Midrash?

 

The Midrash emphasises that our responsibilities in this world are never over.  It is wrong to think ‘I have done my share and now it is time for others to do their bit’. Therefore, as soon as Jacob feels settled, he is confronted with new and more difficult challenges.

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________

 

 

 

Ten Minutes of Torah was prepared by Rabbi Chaim Weiner, based on the methods of Prof. Nechama Leibowitz. Rabbi Weiner studied and corresponded with Prof. Leibowitz for several years.

 

 

·         I endeavour to reply to everyone who sends their answers to me.

·         Please feel free to forward this study sheet to anyone who you think might be interested, including all headers and footers.

·         This study sheet, and archives of previous study sheets are available at www.tenminutesoftorah.supanet.com .

·         Please send any comments or questions (including technical questions, or problems you have accessing the material) to tenminutesoftorah@supanet.com.