In this week's Parsha, Vayigash, Yosef brings his family to the Land of Goshen. The odd occurence here is that he, seemingly, plots with his family to keep them in Goshen. As we will see, Yosef tells his brothers to tell Pharoh they are Shepards. If that is the truth and they are shepards, why does Yosef need to tell them to relate that information to Pharoh when he asks for it? The whole conversation reads like this (Breishis 46:31-34):
The verses here seem to indicate that Yosef is telling the brothers that he is going to lie about something. If the entire family was really keepers of cattle then why does Yosef need to tell them to tell Pharoh this? It seems like Yosef is doing this specifically so they can live in Goshen which is away from the Egyptians. Obviously, this is far away from the Egyptians because they consider people who keep cattle to be disgusting (probably because the Egyptians worshiped cattle).
The Ralbag even tells us that there are three reasons why Yosef wanted his family living in Goshen. First, because it is a land that is good for grazing and it is very nice. Second, it is the choicest of all the land of Egypt. Finally, Yosef did not want his family to be spread out in the land of Egypt. The Ralbag goes on to say that if the Jewish people were spread out in the land of Egypt they would be ridiculed for their way of life. However, if they stayed together in Goshen, where they would be the majority, then they would not be bothered.
With this idea in mind, I think it is quite clear what Yosef was doing. There were, most probably, people in Yaakov's family that were not shepards. That is why Yosef wanted them all to claim they were shepards, so Pharoh would not protest and, therefore, he would allow all of Yaakov's family to live in Goshen. This would allow all the Jewish people to live in one place and avoid the bad influences of the Egyptians. The Jewish people would avoid assimilation because they would be far removed from the rest of Egypt.
Obviously, the Jews were not the only people in Goshen, because it was already a small city (as the Ralbag points out). However, it was important for Yosef to minimize the influence of the Egyptians on the Jewish people. I think this is an important lesson for us to learn nowadays as well. It is important to live in a Jewish community where outside influences only have minimal impact. If a Jew goes off to a place with a very minimal Jewish community then they will be influenced much more by inappropriate ideologies than if they were surrounded by Torah Jews.
This is not to say that a Jew should cut themselves off either. However, if we look at the case of Yosef we can learn when it is appropriate to protect yourself from outside influences. The Egyptian culture was full of idol worship and licentiousness. The Jews needed to keep their distance in order to protect themselves from these inappropriate ideas. The Jews did still do business with the Egyptians and other things, but their cultures were separate. This is why the Midrash tells us that the Jews did not change their dress, language or names, among other things, because their cultures were separate.
Jews need to be able to retain their culture and their religion. The best way to do this is to do what Yosef did. Make sure that the Jewish community is strong and tightly knit. That does not mean that we can't converse with other cultures, perform business with them, or even be friends. What it does mean is that we need to make it that those who are closest to us are from our culture and religion. I think that is the message we can learn from Yosef, we need to create tightly knit Jewish communities if we are going to protect our religion and our culture. Also, the only way to truly fight detrimental influences is to keep them at arms length. That does not mean ignoring them completely, like some Jewish communities do, (for that is detrimental as well) but we must realize the differences in our values and our ways of life.
Showing posts with label Vayigash. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vayigash. Show all posts
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Yehuda Setting Up Educational Centers and Co-Existing With Other Cultures
In this week's parsha, Yaakov sends Yehuda ahead of everyone else to Yosef in order that Yehuda should prepare the land of Goshen for Yaakov's arrival. Everything about this seems a bit odd. First of all, why not have the entire family arrive at Goshen at the same time? Second of all, if Yehuda was sent ahead to erect houses of study like the Midrashim say, then why wouldn't Yosef have been able to do it? In fact, the verse tells us that Yehuda is supposed to go to Yosef and then set up the houses of study. Furthermore, Yosef must have already established houses of study for his own children, otherwise, where would they be learning? If this is so, why can't Yaakov's family learn with Ephraim and Menashe?
The first question can be answered in a fairly simple manner. The Gemorah (I think In Gittin) tells us how the exile after the first temple's destruction took place. The second to last king of Yehuda (Jehoiachin) was exiled by Nebuchadnezzar and was replaced by Zedekiah. However, Jehoiachin was exiled before the final destruction and scripture tells us that all of the artisans and gate keepers were exiled at this time. The Gemorah tells us that these artisans and gatekeepers were the wise one's and the teachers. Therefore, before the entire Jewish population was exiled, the teachers and wise men were setting up a proper Torah environment for the rest of the Jewish people to enter into. This idea is most probably the reason Yaakov sent Yehuda ahead, because an exiled people can only retain their identity if they have some type of establishment that helps them cling to their culture.
As a side point, I think this is probably why America has been so successful at being a melting pot. This country was an empty land with no establishments. Anyone who came here had freedom to choose and an obligation to decide their own identity. There was no force compelling anyone to go one way or another, just freedom. In some ways this mentality is good and in other ways it is bad. Decide for yourself why it is good and bad and let me know what you think.
The second question of why couldn't Yosef have handled the task of erecting the houses of study is more complicated. This has to do with the dichotomy of Yosef and the purpose of Yehuda. If we look at Yosef's character we can see many great qulaities, however, these qualities are not to be everlasting or constant throughout Jewish history. On the other hand, the characteristics of Yehuda are everlasting and constant. Yosef was needed to set up the presence of the Jewish people in Egypt, however, Jews were not supposed to live a Yosef type of life. Yosef was beautiful, wealthy, a king in a foreign land and powerful. The Jew is not supposed to care about physical beauty, wealth is something that is considered detrimental, Jews are disgraced while in exile and they are, for the most part, weak. How could Yosef, someone who encompassed all of these great qualities, but qualities that Jews do not commonly have, set up a lifestyle for common Jews?
On the other hand, Yehuda was the perfect example of a person that can relate to a common Jew. True, Yehuda was a leader, but only a leader among the borthers. Yehuda was disgraced in his lifetime, he was the paradigm of repentance, and he was willing to die for his fellow Jew (Binyomin). These are qualities that a common Jew relates to, disgrace while in exile, repentance and a willingness to die for one another (Bortherly love). This is why Yehuda was the perfect person to set up an establishment for the Jewish people in exile, because he could understand the needs of the common Jew.
However, scripture tells us that Yehuda consulted with Yosef first. This relates to the final idea, what was with the houses of study that Yosef had for his children. Yosef's children were son's of a king. They are not the common Jew, but needed to be in special programs so that they could fulfill their obligations as the sons of a king. Therefore, they needed a special type of curriculum. This special curriculum is why Yehuda consulted with Yosef before setting up a house of study, because he needed to discern which parts of this curriculum are necessary for Jews in exile. Jews in exile can not be oblivious to their neighbors, the non-Jews. They must learn how to associate and interact with them if they are to survive in the general population.
The lack of communication between societies is what causes conflict. Yehuda understood this and that is why he consulted with Yosef before setting up an establishment of education. He realized the teaching must incorporate some ideas that will allow for Jews and non-Jews to associate with each other. Without this crucial skill all that happens is misunderstandings and hatred. This hatred comes from a lack of understanding and ignorance of other cultures. This idea is obvious throughout all of history. The Jews have been hated throughout the ages because no one ever understood them. The Europeans that came to the new world hated the natives (they called them savages and had several conflicts) because they did not understand their culture. Muslims and Christians were constantly at war ever since Islam's inception. The lack of understanding leads to fear and fear leads to hatred. If we can teach and understand one another, there will be much less hatred.
The first question can be answered in a fairly simple manner. The Gemorah (I think In Gittin) tells us how the exile after the first temple's destruction took place. The second to last king of Yehuda (Jehoiachin) was exiled by Nebuchadnezzar and was replaced by Zedekiah. However, Jehoiachin was exiled before the final destruction and scripture tells us that all of the artisans and gate keepers were exiled at this time. The Gemorah tells us that these artisans and gatekeepers were the wise one's and the teachers. Therefore, before the entire Jewish population was exiled, the teachers and wise men were setting up a proper Torah environment for the rest of the Jewish people to enter into. This idea is most probably the reason Yaakov sent Yehuda ahead, because an exiled people can only retain their identity if they have some type of establishment that helps them cling to their culture.
As a side point, I think this is probably why America has been so successful at being a melting pot. This country was an empty land with no establishments. Anyone who came here had freedom to choose and an obligation to decide their own identity. There was no force compelling anyone to go one way or another, just freedom. In some ways this mentality is good and in other ways it is bad. Decide for yourself why it is good and bad and let me know what you think.
The second question of why couldn't Yosef have handled the task of erecting the houses of study is more complicated. This has to do with the dichotomy of Yosef and the purpose of Yehuda. If we look at Yosef's character we can see many great qulaities, however, these qualities are not to be everlasting or constant throughout Jewish history. On the other hand, the characteristics of Yehuda are everlasting and constant. Yosef was needed to set up the presence of the Jewish people in Egypt, however, Jews were not supposed to live a Yosef type of life. Yosef was beautiful, wealthy, a king in a foreign land and powerful. The Jew is not supposed to care about physical beauty, wealth is something that is considered detrimental, Jews are disgraced while in exile and they are, for the most part, weak. How could Yosef, someone who encompassed all of these great qualities, but qualities that Jews do not commonly have, set up a lifestyle for common Jews?
On the other hand, Yehuda was the perfect example of a person that can relate to a common Jew. True, Yehuda was a leader, but only a leader among the borthers. Yehuda was disgraced in his lifetime, he was the paradigm of repentance, and he was willing to die for his fellow Jew (Binyomin). These are qualities that a common Jew relates to, disgrace while in exile, repentance and a willingness to die for one another (Bortherly love). This is why Yehuda was the perfect person to set up an establishment for the Jewish people in exile, because he could understand the needs of the common Jew.
However, scripture tells us that Yehuda consulted with Yosef first. This relates to the final idea, what was with the houses of study that Yosef had for his children. Yosef's children were son's of a king. They are not the common Jew, but needed to be in special programs so that they could fulfill their obligations as the sons of a king. Therefore, they needed a special type of curriculum. This special curriculum is why Yehuda consulted with Yosef before setting up a house of study, because he needed to discern which parts of this curriculum are necessary for Jews in exile. Jews in exile can not be oblivious to their neighbors, the non-Jews. They must learn how to associate and interact with them if they are to survive in the general population.
The lack of communication between societies is what causes conflict. Yehuda understood this and that is why he consulted with Yosef before setting up an establishment of education. He realized the teaching must incorporate some ideas that will allow for Jews and non-Jews to associate with each other. Without this crucial skill all that happens is misunderstandings and hatred. This hatred comes from a lack of understanding and ignorance of other cultures. This idea is obvious throughout all of history. The Jews have been hated throughout the ages because no one ever understood them. The Europeans that came to the new world hated the natives (they called them savages and had several conflicts) because they did not understand their culture. Muslims and Christians were constantly at war ever since Islam's inception. The lack of understanding leads to fear and fear leads to hatred. If we can teach and understand one another, there will be much less hatred.
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