Portion VaYeCHee - Father Jacob and Justice Minister Jacob

How much self-justified hatred and anger can exist in the minds of otherwise intelligent people. And how to combat that?

People need faith – in themselves as well as others – and in the FUTURE – as we learn from Jacob's blessings to his children in this week's portion.

The portion ends with blessings for all Israel – but ominously - IN EGYPT

Are hatred and anger born of greed or maybe often just "wanting good things",

Or is it ego (sometimes) that blinds instead of motivating for good?

So it's written that Father Jacob enjoyed 17 "good years" with his WHOLE family - but minus his dear Rachel. Wasn't he a bit angry at least?

Is that what we have to worry about here, today? After this "showdown" after the (corona) shakeup. Following "good years" but with anger?

 (Here meaning the Western and Middle Eastern worlds)

The lessons we have to learn from the portion – and from today – are evidenced in an episode from the life of another "Jacob" – my former neighbor Jacob (Yaakov) Neeman.

Starting 1996, he tried to set up a cabinet  Netanyahu' first term as Prime Minister

Representing those who elected him, including

my former neighbor as Justice Minister.

Michel ben Yair, a left wing (pro-Arab, anti-religion) legal advisor to the government (left over from the previous government)

Created fraudulent criminal cases - and removed Neeman – who was of course acquitted after months in the courts – but the criminal charges forced Neeman to resign after only a few weeks at work.

 Even the judge said the claims were baseless

Now again in Israel with trumped-up cases against Netanyahu

The current elections in Israel are NOT about peace accords, NOT about police abuses (although one high ranking police person was recently finally removed a few years after verified abuses), and not even - as the Army Radio was joking last night – about how a few politicians are starting "NEW" parties because the previous left-wing parties are disintegrating

Politics in Israel has many "angry" self-righteous angry politicians who probably would do better to help forge a post-Covid successful society helping Ethiopian and Indian Jews integrate and thrive in Israel.

So why does Book 1 (Bereisheet) of the Torah end this portion – in Egypt and not in Israel?

Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Neria wrote some years ago, that the First Book is about Creation – of the world, of justice, and about Israel's place and purpose.

The Second Book is about Salvation of the world – building Temples, building Society with Justice and Objective Rules (like the 10 Commandments).

THE First shoWed us the challenges AND ends with Life in Galut – Israel's children being cast into a corrupt world.

Moses in the Second (portions starting NEXT week) taught laws, after the miracles woke the world – and allowed us to Leave Egypt

And even in a desert – build a Temple of Love and forgiveness

Shabbat Shalom Health and Sweetness

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion VaYeeGash – Bad Leaders Good Soldier

What horrible stories this week! But what WONderful people!

In the portion this week Joseph is holding one brother prisoner, and threatens to take another as a slave – and so Judah puts himself OUT THERE to try to end the madness.

What madness? 9 brothers sold Joseph into slavery! And a thousand years later – King Josiah in Jerusalem is STILL fighting that abuse (until the Egyptians kill him in battle). What was really in Joseph's heart?

And what's that got to do with the 30 (Sheloshim) memorial and unveiling the stone at the grave of my father-in-law?

Confronting the family members "that never came for years" evoked screams. Later on the "Older Sister" shared stories.

Why did Joseph's brothers NEVER come to look for him – for over 20 years?

Did Joseph the Viceroy scream at them? Make them slaves?

He went BEYOND THE ORDINARY.

Judah too, went BEYOND THE ORDINARY.   

And Rabbi Shlomo Carelebach taught, "What the Almighty wants of us is to Get Beyond the Ordinary Response. When we have a right to scream – try to calm yourself – and also calm the other side. When our children mess up – turn it into a CALM learning session".

Eli Dror was a good soldier and a good family man – and everyone said so! But he had a right to have not been such a faithful player in the history of Israel – a paratrooper, a kibbutz member, a small business man, and a loved family member.

But the whole Iraqi clan shared some stories! When they got to Israel because the whole Arab world was throwing out the Jews and stealing their property – his family was sent to a tent camp – water was rationed, tents were washed out in the heavy rains, and families were separated.

We now know that the socialist establishment told Sephardic Jews that their children died – but secretly gave the children to Ashkenazi childless families! This week one story shared was the sister that was sent to a hospital – and died there. Eli's mother had migraines and was sickly for the rest of her life!

The "healthy kids" were sent to kibbutzim – it was a healthier environment – but were they almost slaves? Eli met his wife there and they left – and spent 60 happy years together until …. , well, just over 30 days ago he passed away from a disease he fought for 7 years, and is missed terribly by (almost) the whole family …

 Joseph did NOT make ANY brothers slaves – he brought them all to live in safety (until the later Pharoah – well, we get into that in a couple of weeks).

Today is the Fast of 10 Tevet –commemorating  the beginning of One Ending (destruction of the First Jewish Commonwealth in 587 BCE) -and hopefully ... also a new era of learning the Torah – in Iraq where the Jews were – until 1950! When Eli's family were forced to leave.

And where does the Joseph Story and the Eli Story leave us?

 And what will we leave behind on this earth if not THOSE GREAT MOMENTS WE REACH BEYOND OURSELVES – whenever the opportunity arrives.

Shabbat Shalom – Health and Peace and "Reaching Beyond Ourselves

Rabbi ANDY EICHENHOLZ