The story of Dinah contains gaps and ambiguities, which feed confusion over her silence, and the divide between Jacob and her brothers. The text suggests that the outcome of the event could have been different if not for the vengeance taken by Simeon and Levi.
Karen Erlichman ties the concept of being an outsider in parashat Vayeishv to the ongoing reality of the LGBTQ community. Joseph was hated and ostracized by his brothers, and ultimately exiled to Egypt. She draws an interesting comparison between the parashah and contemporary realities.
Joseph encounters a nameless man, who directs him to find his brother. How is this significant? Earlier in our text, Jacob also meets a nameless man and wrestles with him. Jacob is of course known for experiencing divine encounters. Rabbi Oseran ponders the. Issue of encounters with unknown people and their potential impact on our future.
Oh God, my God
of all the gifts You have given me
the potato pancake rises above
all my cherished possessions.
The fight for religious freedom is as important today as it was 2000 years ago, not only for Jews, but for people of all faiths. Despite the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, religious liberty is at risk in many parts of the world, for many faiths.
As Esau was responsible for his own choices in parashat Toledot, so was Jacob responsible for his choices. In his dream, he is not concerned with whether it was real or not, but in creating language that portrayed its mystical nature.
We are told that Isaac loved Esau, but we don’t know why. Didn’t Isaac see that Esau was a man of the outdoors, rather than a contemplative man of God? Surely, he must have known that Esau was a mercurial personality, marrying two Hittite women.
Rabbi Kipnes and Cantor Cotler apply Pardes—The Orchard of Torah Study—to Chanukah. They start with the Book of Maccabbees, which stated that the days of purification and triumph were like the days of Sukkot, establishing the annual celebration.
In this parashah, the text emphasizes chesed, which is central to the Jewish value system. He cites Rev Simlai, who taught that the Torah begins and ends with an act of kindness: God clothes the naked and God buries Moses. Many see chesed as even higher than tzedakah.
Rabbi writes about changing the world, using the lessons from parashat Vayeira; hospitality, kindness, meaningful dialogue, courage. In times of crisis, human actions can change biblical events.