VaYigash
Genesis 44:18-47:27

This portion tells us about the possibility of healing and acceptance, even in families where the rifts have been deep and bitter. As we gather for various holiday celebrations and face the various rifts and strains in our own circles of family and friends, it is encouraging to consider the way Joseph and his brothers reunite in great harmony. Unforgiveable things are forgiven, and terrible pride is humbled when survival is at stake and the one they hated is willing to save them all.

So this week we finally come to the dramatic climax of Joseph’s story. His brothers appear before him, but do not recognize him, and plead for the life of their youngest brother Benjamin. Judah, the brother who many years ago persuaded his brothers to sell and not kill Joseph, now comes forward to beg on Benjamin’s behalf. He explains why Benjamin is so important to his father Jacob, but without jealousy or resentment. He expresses a great desire to do no harm to Jacob by having to tell him Benjamin has come to harm, and humbly offers to take his place in prison.

Joseph is overpowered by emotion and reveals himself to his disbelieving brothers. The dream of his youth has been fulfilled; he does now rule over all of them. However, it is without ambition or competition. Joseph understands and explains clearly that this is what God intended, and that they mustn’t fight with each other over blame and guilt that no longer matters. He is grateful to be in a position to save them, and they are relieved to be saved.

Jacob gets the shock of his life with the news that Joseph still lives, and they too enjoy an emotional reunion. Jacob and all his household, now numbering 70, are resettled in Goshen in Egypt. Joseph secures good land and work for his family, presents them to Pharoah, and then returns to his post. There is a beautiful and ironic moment when the elderly Jacob is presented to Pharoah, who asks him how old he is. Jacob replies:
"The days of my sojourn are one hundred and thirty. Few and hard have been the years of my life, nor do they come up to the lifespans of my fathers…” (Genesis 47:9)

Perhaps the older we get, the more brief our lifespan comes to seem to us. Certainly when death is immanent, many matters that have seemed terribly important are revealed to be superficial and meaningless. Sometimes it is only the presence of threat or loss that has the power to reunite those who have been separated by petty arguments, competition, blame, or jealousy. Here in Genesis, we see a family that has been severely torn, brought back together miraculously. None of the acts of cruelty or stupidity turn out to have been ultimately wrong. They all were necessary to lead to life-saving rescue and reunion. This is something to hold to when it seems that things are falling apart for us. There may be something put in place that is exactly what is required for a later moment.

- Rabbi Alexis Roberts
© December 2002