Porção Vayigash

Torah Portion of the Week: Vayigash

We left off last week with Joseph's pronouncement that he was keeping Benjamin as a slave for stealing his wine cup. Judah steps forward to challenge the decision and offers himself as a slave instead of Benjamin. Joseph is overcome with emotion, clears the room of all Egyptians and then reveals his identity to his unsuspecting brothers.
The brothers are shocked! They suspect Joseph's intentions, but accept his offer to bring the extended family to Egypt. Jacob is initially numb and disbelieving of the news, but becomes very excited to see his son.
During the famine, Joseph buys up all of the property and people in Egypt for Pharaoh with the grain stored during the seven good years. The Torah recounts the 70 souls of the Jewish people who went down to Egypt. Jacob reunites with Joseph, meets Pharaoh and settles with the family in the Goshen district.
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Dvar Torah based on based on Growth Through Torah by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin
When the brothers realize that Pharaoh's right hand man is none other than their brother Joseph whom they sold into slavery, they are overcome with remorse for their actions. Joseph tries to lessen their feeling of guilt and says to them:
" ... it was not you who sent me here, but the Almighty. And He made me a vizier to Pharaoh and a master over all of his house and ruler over the land of Egypt."
\nWhat can we learn from Joseph\'s action? When a person is wronged, there is a tendency not to fully accept the apology of the offender in order to keep him guilty forever. This gives the wronged person a feeling of being "one-up" and the other person "one-down."\nJoseph wanted to do an act of kindness so that they should not feel guilty. He even expressed gratitude for the good he gained from their selling him. If someone asks you for forgiveness, be sensitive to his feeling of guilt and regret. Make it your goal to save the person from emotional stress and suffering. Ask yourself, "What can I do or say now to make this person feel better?" You will be a bigger person for your effort and have fulfilled the mitzvah of Emulating the Almighty. You will gain more respect from the other person and your peers. And remember, the way you treat others is the way that the Almighty will treat you.
What can we learn from Joseph's action?
When a person is wronged, there is a tendency not to fully accept the apology of the offender in order to keep him guilty forever. This gives the wronged person a feeling of being "one-up" and the other person "one-down."
Joseph wanted to do an act of kindness so that they should not feel guilty. He even expressed gratitude for the good he gained from their selling him.
If someone asks you for forgiveness, be sensitive to his feeling of guilt and regret. Make it your goal to save the person from emotional stress and suffering. Ask yourself, "What can I do or say now to make this person feel better?" You will be a bigger person for your effort and have fulfilled the mitzvah of Emulating the Almighty. You will gain more respect from the other person and your peers. And remember, the way you treat others is the way that the Almighty will treat you.
CANDLE LIGHTING - January 6
Jerusalem 4:15Guatemala 5:29 Hong Kong 5:36 Honolulu 5:46J'Burg 6:46 Porto 3:50 Los Angeles 4:40Melbourne 8:28 Mexico City 5:54 Miami 5:28New York 4:25 Singapore 6:54 Toronto 4:38

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

The best solution for little problems is to help people with big problems.