Parashah Roundup: Vayigash/Asarah Be-Teives 5770

by Steve Brizel
Joseph's Reunion with his Brothers and Yaakov Avinu

Rav Soloveitchik ZTL ( in Yiddish) discussses the conflict between Yosef and Yehudah: link (audio)

R Michael Rosensweig explores why Joseph sent Yaakov a reminder of the Halachos of Eglah Arufah and why Joseph did not fully absolve his brothers: link 1, link 2

R David Horwitz analyzes the transformation of Yehudah: link

R Yitzchak Etshalom analyzes the interaction between Joseph and his brothers: link

Click here to read more

R Dovid Fohrman discuses whether Joseph ever fully reconciled with his brothers: link (audio)

R Sir Jonathan Sacks examines the process of teshuvah in the rapprochement between Joseph and his brothers: link

R Avigdor Nevenzal illustrates how Joseph bore no grudge and sought to preserve the Jewish People in Egypt: link 1, link 2

R Berel Wein suggests that the Talmud avoided the tragedy of Joseph and his brothers by ruling that both Beis Hillel and Beis Shammai were “Elu v Elu Divrei Elokim Chaim”, even though the Halacha follows Beis Hillel: link

R Yissocher Frand, based on the views of the Chasam Sofer and the Noda BiYehudah as well as the Zohar explains why covering our eyes during the recitation of the first verse of Krias Shma enables us to accept the Yoke of Heaven: link

The Nesivos Shalom, as elucidated by R Yitzchak Adlerstein, explains why Yehudah's prayer before Joseph is a paradigm for proper Tefilah: link

R Asher Brander , based on the differing views of Rashi and Ramban, discusses who cried at the reunion between Joseph and Yaakov: link

R Avishai David explains numerous issues in the commentary of Ramban and reminds us of the Mesorah from Chazal as mentioned in the Mishnah Brurah that a Jew has to live Parshas HaShavuah, especially in light of events in the world at large: link (audio)

R Avraham Gordimer discusses the means of teshuvah set forth by Joseph for his brothers: link and why Ephraim and Menashe are invoked in a parent's blessing of their sons: link

Dr. David Pelcowitz provides insights from modern psychology into the reunion between Joseph and his brothers: link (audio)

R Zvi Sobolofsky discusses how the descent into Egypt by Yaakov and his family serves as an instruction how to live in exile: link

R Aharon Lichtenstein and R Shlomoh Riskin, based on Rashi, discusses the message that Joseph sent to Yaakov with the wagons: link 1, link 2

R Ephraim Buchwald explains how the punishment for the sale of Joseph was delayed and was effectuated after the failure of the revolt of Bar Kochba: link

R Eytan Feiner explores the role of Chushim Ben Dan in the reunion between Joseph and his brothers: link

Joseph as Viceroy

R Hershel Schachter points out that we should learn Joseph's use of the money and produce that he collected as a model for loving mitzvos, while avoiding the twin mistakes of loving money and food and while remembering that is not a mitzvah to be either rich or poor: link

Kibud VaEm

R Asher Weiss and R Aryeh Leibowitz discusses the halachic obligations of honoring parents and grandparents: link 1 (audio), link 2 (audio)

R Dovid Gottlieb discusses the halachic status of grandchildren: link (audio)

Asarah BaTeves and the Holocaust

R Aharon Lichtenstein discusses various approaches to the issue of theodicy and the connection between Asarah BaTeves and the Holocaust: link 1, link 2

R Dovid Miller discusses the past and future of Asarah BaTeves: link (audio)

R Mordechai Willig and R Daniel Z Feldman discus the Halachos and origins of Asarah BaTeves: link 1 (audio), link 2 (audio)

R Shalom Rosner discusses the famous comment of the Beis HaLevi when Joseph confronts his brothers and AsarahBaTeves: link (audio)

R Baruch Simon explains the connection between Parshas Vayigash and Asarah BaTeves: link (audio)

R Ephraim Buchwald raises the issue of whether remembering the Holocaust without a message to inspire a person to live a Jewishly commited life is a positive way of inculcating Jewish identity: link