(Genesis-44:18-47:27)

(Haftara: Ezekiel 37:15-28)

1. [45:3] After Yehudah’s speech, Yosef suddenly tells his brothers that he is Yosef.  What did Yehudah say that convinced Yosef to reveal his identity after all this time?

• [45:5-8] Yosef  does not blame his brothers at all for selling him into Egypt. He says that it was God who really sent him. If he really believes that, then why did Yosef make so many problems for his brothers in Egypt?

•  [46:29] Rashi, our main commentator (1040-1105—France), quotes a midrash which tells us that when Ya’akov met Yosef, Ya’akov said the “Shma” (Listen, Israel, God, our Lord, God is One), while Yosef cried and hugged Ya’akov. After all the years that Ya’akov cried and longed for Yosef, why wasn’t he more emotional when he finally was reunited with him?

•  [47:9] When Yosef introduces Ya’akov, his father, to Pharoah,  Pharoah asks Ya’akov how old he is. Ya’akov answers, and then continues to say that his life has been bad. This is unusual. Why did Ya’akov  tell Pharoah that he has had a bad life, even though he had not been asked about his life?

• [48:16] In the next parsha Ya’akov blesses Yosef’s children. He begins by saying, “The angel who redeemed me from all evil…” In other words, my life was good. This contradicts what Ya’akov said previously. Was his life really bad or was it really good? How can this contradiction be explained?

Commentary

[45:13] “Tell my father about all the honour I receive in Egypt”.

Tell my father that I have reached the stage where I can get honour from people without it disturbing my service of God.  The honour I get is meaningless to me and does not affect me at all.

                                       –R. Simcha Bunim of Peshischa (1765-1827)

This study page is dedicated to the memory of Rivkah Rochel bat Ya’akov haLevi and Chaya Kornberg, and Yechiel Eliezer ben Yitzchok Meir and Rochel Laya Kornberg

And to the memory of Gad Eliahu ben David and Kochava–Eli Zucker