Vayigash

Am I My Brother's Keeper?

Adapted from Rabbi Charles Savenor

Parshat Vayigash finally completes a theme that began at the beginning of the book of Bereisheet-Genesis. When Cain kills his brother, he asks "Hashomer achi anochi - am I my brother's keeper?" (4:9) Throughout the book of Bereisheet, brothers and sisters struggle with the question.

When Yosef is young, his brothers hate him. One day, Yosef's father sends Yosef to talk with his brothers. Yosef loses his way, and tells a stranger, "I am seeking my brothers" (Bereisheet 37:16).  At first, this sounds like a straightforward inquiry into his brothers' physical location. In the context of the story, however, it also expresses Yosef's deep-seated desire to learn how to live in harmony with them.

When Yosef finds his brothers, they sell him into slavery. Against all odds, he becomes Viceroy of Egypt in charge of food rations. The brothers come to buy food but do not recognize that the Viceroy is their brother. Testing his brothers, the Viceroy demands that they consign their youngest brother Binyamin to him as a slave. Brother Yehudah (Judah) offers to take Binyamin's place in slavery, out of compassion for their father.  Yosef loses his composure and weeps - for his family and for all of humanity.  Through his actions, Yehudah declares "I am my brother's keeper" and through his words he declares, "As a single act of hate ruptured our family, so can a single act of love preserve it." 

Is it any accident that the name of our religion (Yahadut-Judaism) takes its inspiration from Yehudah?

Return to Reb Laura's "Taste of Torah" list.

Return to "Teachings from Our Rabbis and Friends" list.

---

[ Home ]	[ Asiyah ]	[ Yetzirah ]	[ Briyah ]	[ Atzilut ]	[ Calendar ]
	( Doing )	( Feeling )	( Knowing )	( Being )