Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish
Subject: A Byte Of Torah II,IX VaYeishev
From: ToraByte Int'l <CFRQC@CUNYVM.BITNET>
Date: Thursday, 17 Dec 1992 00:25:26 EST
Organization: City University of New York/ University Computer Center

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                                     A                                   BS"D
   Volume II                      B Y T E     The Electronic
     Issue IX                       O F          Torah Weekly
                                 T O R A H
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 ----                    Editor : Zev S. Itzkowitz                       ----
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                           Dvar Torah of the Week
                           ----------------------

"And they said one to another:
  Behold, this dreamer comes.
   And now come and let us slay him ..." (Genesis 37:19-20)

  Did all of the brothers plot against Joseph? If not, then which of the
brothers said this to each other? We know that it could not have been Reuben,
for he vehemently objected to killing Joseph (see Genesis 37:21-22); it could
not have been Judah, for he too opposed killing Joseph (see Genesis 37:26-
27); it could not have been the sons of the handmaids, because they did not
really bear him ill will (see Genesis 37:2). Issachar and Zebulun would not
have spoken up against any of their elder brothers. Therefore, we can conclude
that the brothers who actually said the above statement to each other were
Simeon and Levi (Rashi, Targum Yonasan). Furthermore, later on, Joseph
incarcerates Simeon (see Genesis 42:24). Why? Because Simeon had thrown him
into the pit (see Rashi ad loc). Additionally, we know that the combination
of Simeon and Levi was deadly (Ibid), for they alone killed all of the male
inhabitants of Shechem (see Genesis 34:25).
  There are two possible terms in Hebrew for the definate article 'this':
'HaZeh' and 'HaLazeh'. Each of these terms has a different connotation.
'HaZeh' denotes something that is in close proximity to the one who is
speaking. 'HaLazeh' refers to something that is in the distance (Rashbam). The
term in this verse is 'HaLazeh'. This indicates that Joseph was still some
distance away from his brothers when they had spotted him.


                             Mussar of the Week
                             ------------------

"And the man said: They (your brothers) left from here,
  for I heard them saying, we will go to Dothan,
   And Joseph went after his brothers,
    and he found them in Dothan." (Genesis 37:17)

 The Sages say that the man that Joseph was speaking to, was actually the
Angel Gabriel (Rashi, Baal HaTurim). When he told Joseph that his brothers
went to Dothan, he phrased it in such a way that his message was a double
entendre. Meaning, Joseph's brothers did go to Dothan, nevertheless, he should
also be aware of their thoughts concerning him. However, Joseph did not
understand the hidden message that was directed towards him and continued
searching for his brothers (Rabbeinu Bachya, Ramban). This can be a lesson for
us. There are many things that happen in this world in which Hashem sends us
messages. However, how many of us are actually aware of the messages that He
sends us? We should try to become more aware of the events in our life and
their meaning, for when we do, we will find our life being properly guided and
being lived to its fullest.

Please direct any comments, questions, etc. to bytetorah@israel.nysernet.org,
which will be forwarded to me. Please pass it on to a friend. If you want to
subscribe, please send e-mail to listserv@israel.nysernet.org with the msg:
SUB bytetorah <first name> <last name>.  --Zev Itzkowitz        Copyright 1992
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