Parshat Vayigash

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The sequence from Bereishit 37 to 50 is the longest unbroken narrative in the Torah, and there can be no doubt who its hero is: Joseph. The story begins and ends with him. We see him as a child, beloved even spoiled by his father; as an adolescent dreamer, resented by his brothers; as a slave, then a prisoner, in Egypt; then as the second most powerful figure in the greatest empire of the ancient world. At every stage, the narrative revolves around him and his impact on others. He dominates the last third of Bereishit, casting his shadow on everything else. From almost the beginning, he seems destined for greatness. Yet history did not turn out that way. To the contrary, it is another brother who, in the fullness of time, leaves his mark on the Jewish people. Indeed, we

December 22, 2012 9 Tevet, 5773

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks on Parshat Vayigash

bear his name. The covenantal family has been known by several names. One is Ivri, Hebrew (possibly related to the ancient apiru), meaning outsider, stranger, nomad, one who wanders from place to place. That is how Abraham and his children were known to others. The second is Yisrael, derived from Jacobs new name after he wrestled with G-d and with man and prevailed. After the division of the kingdom and the conquest of the North by the Assyrians, however, they became known as Yehudim or Jews, for it was the tribe of Judah who dominated the kingdom of the South, and they who survived the Babylonian exile. So it was not Joseph but Judah who conferred his identity on the people, Judah who became the ancestor of Israels greatest king, David, Judah from whom the messiah will be born. Why Judah, not Joseph? The answer undoubtedly lies in the beginning of Vayigash, as the two brothers confront one another, and Judah pleads for Benjamins release. The clue lies many chapters back, at the beginning of the Joseph story. It is there we find that it was Judah who proposed selling Joseph into slavery: Judah said to his brothers, What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover his blood? Lets sell him to the Arabs and not harm him with our own hands. After all he is our brother, our own flesh and blood. His brothers agreed. (37: 26-27) This is a speech of monstrous callousness. There is no word about the evil of murder, merely pragmatic calculation (What will we gain). At the very moment he calls Joseph our own flesh and blood he is proposing selling him as a slave. Judah has none of the tragic nobility of Reuben who, alone of the brothers, sees that what they are doing is wrong, and makes an attempt to save him (it fails). At this point, Judah is the last

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Shabbat Announcements Parshat Vayigash 5773

person from whom we expect great things. However, Judah more than anyone else in the Torah changes. The man we see all these years later it not what he was then. Then he was prepared to see his brother sold into slavery. Now he is prepared to suffer that fate himself rather than see Benjamin held as a slave. As he says to Joseph: Now, my lord, let me remain in place of the boy as your lordships slave, and let him go with his brothers. How can I return to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery which my father would suffer. (44: 33-34) It is a precise reversal of character. Callousness has been replaced with concern. Indifference to his brothers fate has been transformed into courage on his behalf. He is willing to suffer what he once inflicted on Joseph so that the same fate should not befall Benjamin. At this point Joseph reveals his identity. We know why. Judah has passed the test that Joseph has carefully constructed for him. Joseph wants to know if Judah has changed. He has.

that she has behaved with extraordinary discretion in revealing the truth without shaming him (it is from this act of Tamars that we derive the rule that one should rather throw oneself into a fiery furnace than shame someone else in public). Tamar is the heroine of the story, but it has one significant consequence. Judah admits he was wrong. She was more righteous than I, he says. This is the first time in the Torah someone acknowledges their own guilt. It is also the turning point in Judahs life. Here is born that ability to recognize ones own wrongdoing, to feel remorse, and to change the complex phenomenon known as teshuvah that later leads to the great scene in Vayigash, where Judah is capable of turning his earlier behavior on its head and doing the opposite of what he had once done before. Judah is ish teshuvah, penitential man.

We now understand the significance of his name. The verb lehodot means two things. It means to thank, which is what Leah has in mind when she gives Judah, her fourth son, his name: this time I will thank the Lord. However, it also means, to admit, acknowledge. The biblical term This is a highly significant moment in the history of vidui, confession, then and now part of the process of the human spirit. Judah is the first penitent the first teshuvah, and according to Maimonides its key element baal teshuvah in the Torah. Where did it come comes from the same root. Judah means he who from, this change in his character? For that, we have acknowledged his sin. We now also understand one of to backtrack to chapter 38 the story of Tamar. the fundamental axioms of teshuvah: Rabbi Abbahu said: Tamar, we recall, had married Judahs two elder sons, both of whom had died, leaving her a childless In the place where penitents stand, even the perfectly righteous cannot stand (Berachot 34b). His proof text is widow. Judah, fearing that his third son would share their fate, withheld him from her thus leaving her the verse from Isaiah (57: 19), Peace, peace to him that unable to remarry and have children. Once she was far and to him that is near. The verse puts one who understands her situation, Tamar disguises herself as was far ahead of one who is near. As the Talmud a prostitute. Judah sleeps with her. She becomes makes clear, however, Rabbi Abbahus reading is by no pregnant. Judah, unaware of the disguise, concludes means uncontroversial. Rabbi Jochanan interprets far as that she must have had a forbidden relationship and far from sin rather than far from G-d. The real proof is orders her to be put to death. At this point, Tamar Judah. Judah is a penitent, the first in the Torah. Joseph who, while disguised, had taken Judahs seal, cord and staff as a pledge send them to Judah with a is consistently known to tradition as ha-tzaddik, the message: The father of my child is the man to righteous. Joseph became mishneh le-melekh, second to whom these belong. Judah now understands the the king. Judah, however, became the father of Israels whole story. Not only has he placed Tamar in an kings. Where the penitent Judah stands, even the impossible situation of living widowhood, and not only is he the father of her child, but he also realizes perfectly righteous Joseph cannot stand. However great an individual may be in virtue of his or her natural character, greater still is one who is capable of growth and change. That is the power of penitence, and it began Great Neck Synagogue Shabbat Activities Program with Judah. Dale Polakoff, Rabbi Ian Lichter, Assistant Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Wolf ,zl, Rabbi Emeritus Zeev Kron, Cantor Eleazer Schulman, zl, Cantor Emeritus Rabbi Sholom Jensen, Youth Director Zehava & Michael Atlas, Youth Directors Mark Twersky, Executive Director Rabbi Avraham Bronstein, Program Director Dr. Scott Danoff, President Harold Domnitch, Chairman of the Board

 Youareinvitedtothe GreatNeckSynagogue AnnualChaiSisterhoodDinner Featuringourguestspeaker RachelleWeisberger AuthorofBiblicalBeauty RESCHEDULEDDATE Tuesday,December18h,6PM, atColbeh,GreatNeck Members$40,Nonmembers$45 SponsorshipsavailableGold($72)Silver($36)Bronze($18) JudyLillien5164876845 FarlaFrumkinFarlafrumkin@gmail.com

GNSCHESEDCOLLECTION January2013 Blankets/Sheets/Towels Chairpeopleneededforthe followingcollections: February Crutches/Wheelchairs/WalkersEtc March Springclothing/Toiletry&HouseholdCleaningitems/BabyDiapers Pleasecall SharonGoldwyn 9172877334cell

ANNOUNCEMENTS
GNS UPCOMING EVENTS
HASHKAMA MINYAN Kiddush is sponsored by Amy & Martin Griffel in memory of his mother Marion Griffel, zl. THANK YOU VERY MUCH The GNS Raffle Chairs want to thank the following people for all their time, effort and hard work on the raffle committee: Robyn Blumner, Corri Franco, Lauren Hyman, Vivian and Nikolas Kron, Zachary Mittleman, Alexander Rein, Oliver Rein, Sophia Rein, Jessica Smooha, Alan Steinberg and Mark Twersky. We are also extremely grateful to the many raffle donors who donated beautiful prizes to our shul and to the many people who purchased raffle tickets. We raised $22,000 from raffle sales and 100% of that goes to Great Neck Synagogue making it one of the most successful raffle fundraisers ever at our shul Yashar Koach!
WITHIN OUR FAMILY

Mazal Tov to Rivka & Carl Rosenberg on the engagement of their son Benjamin to Abbie Perlstein. Mazal Tov to Mindy & Michael Leventhal on the birth of their new son. Mazal Tov to Gloria & Harvey Kaylie on the Bar Mitzvah of their grandson Hudson Kaylie.

SENIOR KOLLEL Dec 24-Jan 2, the Kollel will discuss Invitro Fertilization: Is it halachicly allowed or not.

CHAI LIFELINE GNS member Donny Steinberg, will be running in the ING Miami half Marathon on Jan., 27, 2013, to raise money for Chai Lifeline. Chai Lifeline is an international organization that provides year-round emotional, social, and financial support to more than 3,000 children with cancer and their families every year. Donny will be raising money and dedicating his run in memory of his grandfather, Philip Steinberg, who died of cancer. Donations can be made online at Donny4TeamLifeline.tk or by sending a check made payable to Chai Lifeline and sent to Donny Steinberg, 2 Sands Court, Great Neck, N.Y. 11023. GOLDEN LAND Folksbiene Yiddish Theatre has tickets on sale for The Golden Land for 12/19 - 1/6. To order tickets call 212-213-2120. This is the show that the Yiddish Vort had tickets to but was cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy.

SISTERHOOD ANNOUNCEMENTS SAVE THE DATE Our very own Robyn Blumner will discuss Hypnotherapy on January 15th at 8 PM. This is sure to be exciting. Our gift card program is up and running. You can purchase many different gift cards for national retailers through Gift Cards for Good and support the Sisterhood efforts to help those in need. These gift cards can be used by yourself, or given as gifts to co-workers, etc. Please contact Sharon Noy at Sharon@bids4good.com .

GET EXCITED FOR LIMMUD NY 2013 On February 15-18, 2013 at Hilton East Brunswick Hotel, NJ a four-day festival celebrating the rich diversity of Jewish culture, life and learning through art, music, text study, film, hands-on workshops, performances and more. Programming for the whole family, including babysitting and children's camp. All meals are glatt kosher. Register Today! www.limmudny.org/register Questions? Call 212-908-2525 or e-mail info@limmudny.org

THE HUNGER INITIATIVE The Hunger Initiative brightened the Chanukah festival for many families by distributing bags with latkes, applesauce, dreidels, chocolate gelt and Chanukah cookies.
JANUARY CHESED COLLECTION

We will be collecting sheets, towels, blankets new or gently used.

COMMUNITY UPCOMING EVENTS

NSHA PTA FUNDRAISER The NSHA PTA's annual fundraiser will be a family day on Sunday January 13th. We will be welcoming stunt basketball team, The Harlem Wizards. The event will take place at GN North Middle - doors open at 11:15am and game starts at 12pm. We will be selling food and souvenirs, and will be holding a great raffle with prizes such as jewelry, wii u an iPad mini. Half time basketball shoot out for kids - 1st prize is 4 NY Knicks Tickets! For more information and to buy tickets visit www.nsha.4good.com. Email questions to nshawizards2013@gmail.com FOOD DONATION FOR LOCAL KOSHER FOOD PANTRIES We are collecting much needed non-perishable supplies for local kosher food pantries. Please donate: tuna fish, cereals, condiments (ketchup, mustard, and mayo), kid snacks for school, cookies, crackers, paper goods and more. This will be an ongoing project. Anyone interested in donating or volunteering, please contact Sandra Stern, 516-487-9385. Call for drop off information.

Y A H R Z E I T

Saturday, 9 Tevet Mervin Verbit for Meyer Leo Verbit Sunday, 10 Tevet Nathan Rosenblatt for Seymour Rosenblatt Rafael Yehoshua for Tikvah Yehoshua Monday, 11 Tevet Pari Schwatz for Aziz Rebbe Torkan Tuesday 12 Tevet Martin Griffel for Marion Griffel Edwin J Rosman for Romy Rosman Marvin Rotman for Herman Zelman Rotman Wednesday,13 Tevet Irving Forman for Israel Forman Milton Mitzner for Gitl Mitzner Israel Slochowsky for Miriam Slochowsky Thursday, 14 Tevet Judy Blatter for Raymonde Katz Sadie Frank for Meyer Leshkowitz Helen Ishofsky for Willie Herskovits Henry Katz for Raymonde Katz Michael Katz for Raymonde Katz Murray Weiss for Harry Weiss William Wolff for Bernard Wolff Friday, 15 Tevet Shoshanah Ambalo for Sarah Raphael Leon Fuks for Emanuel Fuks Jerome Lippman for Max Lippman Goldie Lorber for Ethel Winter Kenneth S. Magida for Jacob Magida Ellen Polakoff for Casper Pinsker