Yosef and his Brothers

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1. Yosef's Teshuva

   Rabbi Amnon Bazak

   The second half of the book of Genesis describes the Teshuva process of Yaakov’s sons. The first to repent is Reuven; who had tried to prevent the selling of Yosef; and by this atone for his act with Bilhah. Next; Yehuda atones for his actions in the Tamar incident; and goes so far as to offer himself in exchange for Benjamin. Finally; all of the brothers atone for the sin of selling Yosef by proclaiming “we are guilty.” Yosef also undergoes a process of Teshuva; by purchasing land from the Egyptians; and by concealing his brothers’ sin from his father.

2. Of Bags and Brothers (Audio)

   Rabbi Chanoch Waxman | 24 minutes

   The brothers’ sacks should contain grain, or cash, but not both. When they find their money (which Yosef had slipped into the sacks) along with the grain in their sacks, they worry. What is Yosef doing? Does he wish to harshly punish, or to kindly provide a way to achieve atonement? Yosef ultimately demonstrates that pursuing morality trumps realizing dreams.

3. Family Healing

   Rabbi Alex Israel | 38 minutes

   Yosef acts like a hostile stranger when his brothers come to Egypt. Even if one could understand his behavior toward his brothers, he must know that his charade causes pain for Yaakov. How could he do this to his father, and why does Yosef frame Binyamin? Ultimately, the story touches upon mistakes of long ago and offers a chance for renewal and atonement.

4. Tzafnat Pane'ach- The Prince of Egypt

   Rabbi Yair Kahn

   תאריך פרסום: תשסט | | 57 minutes

   The story of Yosef is a religious story as well as a human one. It impacts both on the unfolding of Jewish history as well as the realization of Jewish destiny, and contains ethical dilemmas as well as Divine messages. In this shiur, Rabbi Yair Kahn explores the problem of dual loyalty which Yosef faces in Egypt - loyalty to the Egyptians on one hand, and loyalty to his brothers on the other. By exploring this story from a purely human perspective, we can apply its dilemmas and messages to Am Yisrael today as well. 

5. The Story of Yosef: A Fresh Look

   Rabbi Dr. Daniel Tropper

   תאריך פרסום: תש"ע | | 58 minutes

   Two main moral questions arise from the story of Yosef and his brothers: Why doesn't Yosef contact his father? Why does he have to put his brothers through all the cruelty? This shiur examines the story of Yosef from a psychological perspective, by closely examining the characters and personalities of Yaakov, Yosef, and the brothers. Examining the story from this perspective sheds light on the reasons behind the actions and emotions of the characters, and teaches a lesson about the tremendous impact parents have on the development of their children, which ultimately influences the continuity of Am Yisrael. 

6. Did Joseph Forgive his Brothers?

   Dr. Ruth Walfish

   תאריך פרסום: תש"ע | |

   Much thought has been devoted to the question of what Yosef wished to accomplish by his manipulation of his brothers. In this class we will explore the question of how Yosef felt towards his brothers, during and after his interaction with them in Egypt. Was Yosef able to put aside his hard feelings and really forgive them for the terrible deeds they had done to him? How did the brothers feel towards Yosef after he revealed himself to them? Our answers will be based both on close textual reading, as well as on an exploration of the emotional and psychological components of forgiveness.

    

7. Reuven, Leadership, and Responses to Guilt

   Rabbi Moshe Taragin |

   Much of the narrative of the conclusion of Bereishit is dominated by the struggle between Yehuda and Yosef. Yet a third - and more natural candidate- is discarded without the drama surrounding his brothers. Why is Reuven stripped of his natural license, ceding leadership to his two younger brothers? By closely exploring the characters of Yehuda, Yosef, and Reuven, we can understand why Reuven was deemed unworthy to be a leader, and learn about the importance of failure, guilt, and forgiveness in leadership. 

8. Yaakov vs. Yosef: Am I in Place of God?

   Rabbi David Silverberg

9. Yaakov and Yosef: Responding to Anxious Relatives

   Rabbi David Silverberg

10. The Prince and the Prison

    Rabbi Chanoch Waxman

    Yosef finds favour while he is a slave in Egypt - in Potiphar’s house, and in jail. The text emphasizes again and again how God is helping Yosef. But if this is so, why does God bring Yosef continually downward? What is the meaning and message of Yosef’s descent?

11. Yosef and Chanuka

    Rabbi Mordechai Friedman

    What is the connection between the story of Yosef and Chanuka?

    Yosef's ability was not only to dream and see the hand of Hashem, but to profoundly affect those around him with the sublimity of God.

    The events of Chanuka occurred after the period of prophecy and supernatural events.The war in which "the many fell to the hands of the few," although extraordinary, was not a supernatural occurrence. It was the unique ability of the Chashmonaim to recognize, interpret and more importantly, to effectively relate to the populace that this was truly the workings of God.

    Like a dream occurring in the sleeping conscience of a person, the glowing flames of the menora were, at first, a hidden event. And like the dreams encountered by Yosef, the events of Chanuka required interpreters, advertisers and inspirators to act as conduits to the souls of the people. Yosef and the Chashmonaim were illuminators of the will of Hashem.

12. Yosef and his Brothers: Choice and Rejection

    Rabbi Menachem Leibtag

    The rejection and choice of sons is a theme throughout the book of Breisheet. This principle may have guided the Yosef's brothers to reject him by selling him into slavery. Likewise, this principle may explain why Yosef never contacted his father – an understanding that he was the rejected son.

    When his brothers come to Egypt, Yosef realizes that this is not the case. As his dreams told him, he must be a leader to his brothers: bring them to repent and reunite his shattered family.

13. What Does the Story of Yosef Come to Teach Us?

    Rabbi Elchanan Samet

    What is the subject of the story of Yosef and his brothers, and what does it come to teach us? in order to address this question, we examine the schematic structure of this long story, such that we will be able to discern at a glance its major parts and their interrelationship. Through this examination, we learn about the beginning of the exile, and the significance of the Torah's use of the words "these are the generations" in sefer Bereishit. We also notice that the story of Yosef and his brothers is a variation on one of the central themes of the Torah as a whole: sin – punishment – teshuva – redemption. All of these components in this biblical process turn, in our story, on the value of family unity and responsibility for its continued existence.

14. The Meaning of Yosef's Estrangement

    Rabbi Yaakov Medan

    Many commentators discuss Yosef's estrangement from his brothers and the great severity with which he treats them up until them moment when he reveals his identity. This issue leads naturally to another question: why did Yosef not send word to his father, the moment that he rose to his elevated position in Egypt, telling him that he was still alive? Why did he allow his father to suffer such profound anguish and mourning for his son for an additional nine years? Through a close examination of the narrative, we can see Yosef's estrangement from his brothers as arising from his desire to test their repentance for the sin of having sold him, and that the brothers' actions - and particularly those of the two leaders, Reuven and Yehuda - are influenced and dictated by the sin of selling Yosef and the need to atone for it. Our impression is that the ultimate structure of the family and the fate of the brothers depends on their repentance being accepted. We also learn about the nature of dreams and Yosef's understanding of his dreams as Divine messages of spiritual leadership and spiritual responsibility.

15. Of Bags and Brothers

    Rabbi Chanoch Waxman

    The brothers’ sacks should contain grain, or cash, but not both. When they find their money (which Yosef had slipped into the sacks) along with the grain in their sacks, they worry. What is Yosef doing? Does he wish to harshly punish, or to kindly provide a way to achieve atonement? Yosef ultimately demonstrates that pursuing morality trumps realizing dreams.

16. Why did Yosef Hide his Identity from his Brothers?

    Rabbi Zeev Weitman

    Why did Yosef hide his identity from his brothers? Why did he not inform Yaakov that he is in Egypt, and instead risks causing significant pain to his father? Why did Yosef place the goblet in Binyamin's sack? Many commentators have grappled with these questions, and this article will explore the various answers, as well as suggesting an alternative idea which provides insight into the reason for Yosef's silence – out of a noble desire to avoid the tearing apart of his father's household.

17. Ramban on Parshat Miketz - But We are Guilty For Our Brother

    Rabbi Ezra Bick | 31 minutes

    When the brothers are accused of being spies and one is held hostage in Egypt until the return of the others, their reaction is to see this as punishment for their cruelty to Yosef many years before. They recall that they ignored his pleading to them from the pit. Apparently, they view their passive cruelty as justifying a greater punishment than the sale itself!  

    We compare their view with Ramban’s ideas about the relative value of intentions, personality, and actions as they relate to Avraham’s test during Akeidat Yitzhak, and compare Avraham at the Akeida with the story and transformation of the brothers.  

18. Yehuda's Monologue: Reading Between the Lines

    Rabbi Elchanan Samet

    A “Rashomon” is a situation in which a specific event is described by a number of people with contradicting narratives. Can we find examples of "Rashomon," or at least something similar, within the Chumash? This is unlikely, as the events are written by the omniscient God, Whose version of any story needs no verification. However, when the narrative itself omits its objective description of events, providing them only through the mouths of the biblical characters, then we may speak of "Rashomon" even in the Chumash. By studying the story of Yosef we can see if we perhaps may categorize this drama as Rashomon. Only here, the conflict arises between the narrative itself and one of the characters.

    Yehuda's report to Yosef of the brothers' discussion with their father upon their return from Egypt deviates somewhat from the Torah's account in last week's parasha. By carefully examining the second part of Yehuda's monologue, we can identify these changes and determine the reason behind them.

19. Yosef's Reporting

    Rabbi David Silverberg

20. The Brothers - Conspiring or Casting Allegations?

    Rabbi David Silverberg

21. Yosef's Dreams - Lack of Tact

    Rabbi David Silverberg

22. Yosef's Attitude Toward his Brothers

    Rabbi David Silverberg

23. Yosef Screams from the Pit

    Rabbi David Silverberg

24. Yosef's Brothers and Haman

    Rabbi David Silverberg

25. Rav Lichtenstein on Yaakov's Prudent Restraint

    Rabbi David Silverberg

26. Yosef and Canaan Son of Ham

    Rabbi David Silverberg

27. Yosef and the Sons of Bilhah and Zilpa

    Rabbi David Silverberg

28. The Brothers - Too Quick to Judge

    Rabbi David Silverberg

29. Yosef's Humility

    Rabbi David Silverberg

30. Yosef's Loss of Compsure

    Rabbi David Silverberg

31. The Midrash and Yosef's Measure-for-Measure Punishment

    Rabbi David Silverberg

32. The Midrash and Yosef's Measure-for-Measure Punishment

    Rabbi David Silverberg

33. Seforno on Yosef's Tears for his Brothers

    Rabbi David Silverberg

34. The Guilt of Shimon and Levi

    Rabbi David Silverberg

35. Grief at Finding Money in the Sacks

    Rabbi David Silverberg

36. Yosef Models Rethinking One's Course

    Rabbi David Silverberg

37. Prisoner or Prisoners: Yosef's Change of Heart

    Rabbi David Silverberg

38. Yosef's Motives

    Rabbi David Silverberg

39. Yosef's Dreams and Treatment of his Brothers in Egypt

    Rabbi David Silverberg

40. The Saba of Kelm on the Brothers and Wealth

    Rabbi David Silverberg

41. Reuven's Harsh Exchange

    Rabbi David Silverberg

42. The Second Yishmael

    Rabbi Yoseif Bloch

43. Why did the Brothers Drink?

    Rabbi David Silverberg

44. Did Yosef intend to Keep Binyamin in Egypt - and Why did He Change his Plan?

    Rabbi David Silverberg

45. Do Not Be Angry at the Road

    Rabbi David Silverberg

46. How Could Yosef Repeat This Mistake?

    Rabbi David Silverberg

47. The Shame of the Brothers and Shock of Discovery

    Rabbi David Silverberg

48. Yehuda's Argument to Yosef

    Rabbi David Silverberg

49. Yosef's Motives in Fulfilling his Dreams

50. Distance or Closeness - Chizkuni on Why Yosef Wanted his Brothers to be in Goshen

    Rabbi David Silverberg

51. Why Yosef Wanted his Brothers to be Shepherds

    Rabbi David Silverberg

52. Would the Brothers Have Fled if Yosef had Sent a Message Earlier?

    Rabbi David Silverberg

53. Yosef to the Brothers: Drop the Issue

    Rabbi David Silverberg

54. A Moment of Reckoning for the Brothers

    Rabbi David Silverberg

55. Binyamin's Gifts and Following the Leader

    Rabbi David Silverberg

56. Binyamin Can See that it is I -What is This, and Why Didn't Yosef Contact his Family?

    Rabbi David Silverberg

57. Brothers Do Not Kill Brothers

    Rabbi David Silverberg

58. A Sicha for Parashat Vayigash

    Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein | 19 minutes

    Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein delivers a sicha about Yosef's words to his brothers on their way back to Canaan: "Do not get distressed on the way." The simple meaning of the Hebrew verse seems to connote turmoil, fear, or anxiety - and that Yosef is trying to calm his brothers with a soothing message. Rashi, however, explains the verse as meaning "do not deal with Halakha on the way." What does this mean?

59. The Brothers were Astonished

    Rabbi Ezra Bick | 8 minutes

    When Yosef reveals his true identity to his brothers in Egypt, his brothers are speechless -"The brothers could not anwer him because they were astonished." Rashi quotes Hazal, who find a message from this about the Day of Judgment at the end of our lives.

60. Yosef, His Brothers, and the Divine Plan - Forgiveness, Responsibility, and Guilt

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 19 minutes

    How willing and able is Yosef when it comes to forgiving his brothers? He tells his brother that ultimately God fit everything in to his greater plan. Does that, however, remove his brothers guilt?

61. Who Really Sold Joseph?

    Rabbi David Fohrman |

    Although we grow up learning that the brothers sold Joseph, a closer look at the text, and at the accompanying Rashbam, complicates that understanding. In this week's parsha course, we unravel the sale of Joseph and discuss the implications of such a theory: what is blame? Where does responsibility begin? And most importantly, how do I make moral decisions?

     

     

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62. Vayeshev: Sibling Rivalry

    Rabbi Jay Kelman

63. The Author of Our Lives

    Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

    Almost everything that happens in Joseph’s life falls into two categories: Things done to him, and things he attempts to do on his own. But, in a unique sequence of descriptions, the Torah explicitly attributes his actions and their success to God. Through a close examination of the Joseph narrative we can gain a deep understanding of Divine intervention and about Joseph’s relationship with God.

     

    This article is part of the Covenant & Conversation series. 

    To read more from Rabbi Sacks or to subscribe to his mailing list, please visit http://www.rabbisacks.org/. You can also follow him on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. 

64. Yosef Reveals His Identity

    Rabbi Gad Eldad

    The story of Yosef and his brothers takes a surprising turn when Yosef reveals himself to his brothers. Just when it seems that Yosef wishes to permanently cut himself off from his brothers, and when he manages to get his hands on Binyamin, he finally reveals his identity, and everything appears to work out well. What did Yosef see at this time to make this sharp turn? And why did his brothers later fear that he would seek revenge after Yaakov's death?

    The Bible creates a parallel between he passage at the end of the book in which Yosef's dreams are fulfilled and the passage in which he reveals his identity, and seeks to hint that the story of Yosef and his brother is a drama of errors. The brothers erred in their false suspicion of Yosef, while Yosef erred in his maintaining an estranged attitude for such a long time. He should have ended that earlier, thereby sparing everyone, and especially his father, unnecessary grief. 

65. Yosef & His Brothers: How a Family Can Be Transformed

    Rabbi Alex Israel | 52 minutes

    Why didn’t Yosef contact his father for all the years he was in Egypt? Why did he make his brothers suffer such hardships? What was the motivation behind this plan? This class explores these important questions, allowing us to understand that these actions were crucial to allow Yosef to return to his brothers, and for the siblings to work on repairing the family unit.  

    Courtesy of www.tanachstudy.com

66. Vayigash - The Minister of Bread and the Destiny of Yosef

    Rabbi Chanoch Waxman | 38 minutes

    In this shiur, we will discuss the speech of Yosef. Normally people look at the beginning of the Parasha - Yehuda’s speech, but this week we examine something a bit less looked-at:Yosef’s response.

    A question central tp the claim of Yosef is: to what extent does Yosef truly believe it when he says "It is God who sent you?" Does he just say this as part of a sense of personal destiny, or to make the brothers feel better?

    We look at a parallel scene in Vayehi that takes place after Yaakov’s death, and find a chiastic structure relating to the dreams - with a reversal of events that Yosef recognizes in his own life.

67. Parshat Vayechi - The End of / and Resentment

    Rabbi Chanoch Waxman | 38 minutes

    We will talk about the last strange and slightly tragic encounter between Yosef and his brothers. The brothers worry that Yosef will seek revenge, and the language takes us back to Genesis Chapter 27, when Esav resented Yaakov and harbored a grudge against him.

    They offer themselves as slaves again. Yosef's reaction is emotional, but it is not the first time Yosef cries - it is the 7th time. We look at the instances of Yosef crying and try to find a message. This is a story of  tragedy, reconciliation, alienation, and a tragic twist in the relationship between Yosef and his brothers in the end.

68. "And Yisrael Loved Yosef"

    Rabbi Shimon Klein

    The story of Yosef and his brothers is a dark and painful episode in the history of the Jewish People. A son is sent by his father to his brothers, and they conspire to kill him. Eventually, they decide to sell him instead. How are we to understand the brothers’ conduct? And what is Yosef’s role in what takes place? In this shiur, we will examine the verses closely and try to attain deeper insight into Yosef, the brothers, and what really happened.

69. Binyamin’s Loss

    Rabbanit Dr. Michal Tikochinsky

70. Rehabilitation or Revenge: A Closer Look at Yosef's Treatment of his Brothers

    Rabbi Yair Kahn | Hour

    The Torah describes Yosef's treatment of his brother's, from the time they appear before him to purchase food, in great detail. However, there is no explicit source documenting Yosef's inner motivation. In general, the commentators preferred to promote an altruistic agenda, which can be supported by Yosef's behavior in other contexts. Nonetheless, in an attempt at "pshuto shel mikrah", one cannot totally rule out revenge as a significant, if not dominant factor. During the lecture, we will carefully examine nuances of the story in an attempt to show that via the detailed narrative, the Torah reveals the inner force motivating Yosef's actions.