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Avraham and his Dad
for their questions regarding
the lessons we learn from Yosef
We have been
discussing "Ma'asei Avot Siman LeBanim" - the actions of the
fathers are lessons for their descendants.
We have looked at the lessons we can learn for our own lives from the
stories of our Avot and Imahot.
Avraham and his father
have been wondering about some difficulties with the story we have been
learning. They have asked the following questions to our class
egroup:
Surely
Yosef was
not a good son to his
father!
He
made his brothers jealous of him;
He did not tell his Dad that he was
alive and well in Egypt;
He took his youngest brother
away from his dad.
What
can we learn from all of this?
***
Well done Avraham and
his Dad...
These are certainly difficult questions!
***
Here are some initial thoughts,
with which I responded to these questions:
Remember, this was in connection with the idea that we learn
about the Avot, the Forefathers and their families, in order
to glean lessons from their behaviour for application in our
own lives - 'Ma'asei Avot Siman LeBanim.'
These are indeed difficult issues to understand, although the
conclusion that 'Yosef was not a good son to his father' is
not necessarily correct.
In the Talmud, Midrashim and all later commentators on the
Chumash there are hundreds, if not thousands of approaches to
understanding this, one of the most difficult stories in the
Torah. There are hundreds of discussions addressing the many
questions surrounding Yosef's actions and those of his
brothers; but remember, Yosef is awarded the very unusual
title of 'Yosef Hatzadik.' Our great and wise Rabbis and
teachers would not have given him such an honour without good
reason.
The following link will take you to a d'var Torah which, if
not answering all of our questions, may give us a beginning
on the road to at least finding an approach to addressing the
questions that we have.
I think you will find this very open minded and thought
provoking. Again, this is only one approach of many, but an
interesting one to start with.
http://www.shaalvim.org/archives2/vayigash5757.html
Have a look at this Shiur,
too. It is more difficult but well worth a look.
http://www.tanach.org/breishit/miketz/miketzs1.htm
You will find these and other links on the 'Links'
page.
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Parents'
Questions 