Parshah Vayeishev – Genesis 37:1-40:23
Torah Reading for Week of November 21-27, 2010 – Kislev 14-20 5771
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This week the Torah portion begins “Vayeshev Yaakov,” and Yaakov settled. The Midrash tells us that Yaakov wanted to rest. The Midrash continues that the Almighty did not approve of Yaakov’s retirement plans. Hashem asked, “are the righteous not satisfied with the World to Come? They would want to rest in this world too?” Immediately, says the Midrash, the incident with Yoseph occurred. Yoseph is kidnapped by his brothers and sold as a slave, thus throwing Yaakov’s tumultuous existence into another 22 years of agony.
The lesson is clear. There is a purpose to life. A Jew must always be actively involved with the struggle against evil.
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I will be in Israel next week. My schedule is full. I have 2 conferences to attend. MK Eldad, chairman of the Hatikva Party, one of the constituent parties of the National Union, is convening a special conference of his party in order to discuss an “alternative foreign policy plan,” which mainly consists of recognition of the fact that Jordan is the Palestinian State, while only one state will exist between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea—the State of Israel.
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