Parshat Vayeishev From West Coast NCSY

Posted on July 10, 2008

Vayeishev:
Yaakov settles in the land of his father, in Canaan
Yosef would bring evil reports about his brothers to his their father
Yaakov shows favoritism to Yosef and his brothers hated him
Yosef has two dreams and shares them with his brother and father
Yaakov send Yosef to check on the brothers in the field
Yosef encounters a stranger on the way who directs him toward the brothers
The brothers plot to kill Yosef but Reuven suggests an alternative
Yehudah suggests to sell Yosef to merchants and the brothers concur
Reuven returns to the pit to save Yosef but he is already gone
The brothers return to Yaakov claiming they found Yosef’s bloody tunic
The Torah relates the episode between Yehudah and Tamar
Yehudah’s sons die for their sins, leaving Tamar childless
Yehudah does not give his younger son to her as a husband
Tamar conceives through Yehudah though without his knowledge of her identity
Tamar is sentenced to death for her unfaithfulness
Yehudah admits he is the father and Tamar bears twins
Yosef is brought down to Egypt and is sold to Potiphar
Potiphar’s wife accuses Yosef of attacking her and he is arrested
Yosef is successful in the prison and oversees the other prisoners
Yosef interprets the dreams of Paroh’s baker and butler who are arrested
Yosef asks the butler to remember Yosef when he returns to Paroh
Yosef’s interpretations come true but the butler does not remember Yosef
“And it was at that time, Yehudah descended from his brothers and turned away until he met an Adullamite whose name was Chirah” (Bereishit 38:1)

The Torah recounts the events following Yaakov’s settlement in the land of Canaan. Yosef stirs up hatred and jealousy among his brothers due to the special treatment he receives from their father. This tension only increases as Yosef recounts his dreams of ruling over the family. As he approached his brothers in the field following his father’s instruction, the brothers plot against him to “see what will become of his dreams” (37:20). Yosef is sold to a caravan of merchants passing by.

Following this episode, the Torah interrupts the story of Yosef and gives an account of the affair between Yehudah and Tamar. As this narrative comes to a close, the Torah immediately returns to Yosef’s situation in Egypt.

This interruption seems clearly out of place. The Torah often jumps from one subject to another, and Rashi has made it clear in his commentary on past parshiyot that the Torah is not a historical chronicle. However, in our parasha, the story begins, is interrupted, and then continues right where it left off. This sudden disruption elicits explanation.

The Sforno explains that Yehudah suggested Yosef’s sale and did not deter his brothers from committing such an atrocious deed, ultimately resulting in their father’s extreme anguish. The events that took place with Yehudah and Tamar were a direct consequence of Yehudah’s actions in the sale of Yosef. Hence, they are recorded subsequent to the account of the sale.

Rashi offers a similar interpretation. He explains the interruption “is to teach that the brothers demoted him (Yehudah) from his prominence when they saw their father’s anguish. They said, ‘you told us to sell him! Had you told us to return him, we would have listened to you’” (Rashi on 38:1). Immediately after this episode, Yehudah “descended from his brothers.”

It is interesting to note that both the Sforno and Rashi seem to state that Yehudah could have deterred his brothers. This seems unnecessary when one takes into account the fact that Yehudah suggested Yosef’s sale? There seems to be an added point that is being hinting at.

The Sforno and Rashi seem to be asserting that Yehudah was not singled out merely for his suggestion that they sell Yosef, but for the fact that he, in his position of prominence among the brothers, had a greater influence over the situation. Had he decided to stand up on Yosef’s behalf, the incident could have been avoided as well as Yaakov’s intense sorrow.

We see that one is not only held responsible for his or her direct actions. One is also responsible for potential actions. As it states in Parashat Kedoshim, “you shall not stand idly by the blood of your fellow” (Vayikra 19:16). If one has the opportunity to help his fellow, he is required by the Torah to do so.

From the simple reading of the verses, it seems as though the brothers were ready to spill blood. Yehudah persuaded them not to kill Yosef, but to spare him. “Let us sell him…that our hands will not be upon him…and his brothers listened” (Bereishit 37:27). However, this was not enough. The brothers heeded his suggestion and would have listened to him had he defended Yosef. Hence, Yehudah was singled out and punished for his failure.