Vayeshev - Day #4

Vayeshev וַיֵּשֶׁב - And He Settled  

Torah Portion: Genesis 37:1 - 40:23

Genesis 38:1-30

38 At that time, Judah went down from his brothers and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 There, Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite man named Shua. He took her and went in to her. 3 She conceived, and bore a son; and he named him Er. 4 She conceived again, and bore a son; and she named him Onan. 5 She yet again bore a son, and named him Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him. 6 Judah took a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in Hashem’s sight. So Hashem killed him. 8 Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.” 9 Onan knew that the offspring wouldn’t be his, and when he went in to his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground, lest he should give offspring to his brother. 10 The thing which he did was evil in Hashem’s sight, and he killed him also. 11 Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house, until Shelah, my son, is grown up;” for he said, “Lest he also die, like his brothers.” Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.

12 After many days, Shua’s daughter, the wife of Judah, died. Judah was comforted and went up to his sheep shearers to Timnah, he and his friend Hirah, the Adullamite. 13 Tamar was told, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” 14 She took off the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she wasn’t given to him as a wife. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought that she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. 16 He turned to her by the way, and said, “Please come, let me come in to you,” for he didn’t know that she was his daughter-in-law.

She said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”

17 He said, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.”

She said, “Will you give me a pledge until you send it?”

18 He said, “What pledge will I give you?”

She said, “Your signet and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.”

He gave them to her, and came in to her, and she conceived by him. 19 She arose, and went away, and put off her veil from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood. 20 Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend, the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand, but he didn’t find her. 21 Then he asked the men of her place, saying, “Where is the prostitute that was at Enaim by the road?”

They said, “There has been no prostitute here.”

22 He returned to Judah, and said, “I haven’t found her; and also the men of the place said, ‘There has been no prostitute here.’” 23 Judah said, “Let her keep it, lest we be shamed. Behold, I sent this young goat, and you haven’t found her.”

24 About three months later, Judah was told, “Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has played the prostitute. Moreover, behold, she is with child by prostitution.”

Judah said, “Bring her out, and let her be burned.” 25 When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “I am with child by the man who owns these.” She also said, “Please discern whose these are—the signet, and the cords, and the staff.”

26 Judah acknowledged them and said, “She is more righteous than I, because I didn’t give her to Shelah, my son.” He knew her again no more. 27 In the time of her travail, behold, twins were in her womb. 28 When she travailed, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This came out first.” 29 As he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out, and she said, “Why have you made a breach for yourself?” Therefore, his name was called Perez. 30 Afterward, his brother came out, who had the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.

Today’s Meditation: 

We learn about Tamar in today's reading. We read of her schemes to conceive a child by Judah. We weren’t there to know what compelled her to act in this way of deception, but for some reason, she does. And out of her line of ancestry come kings and a Mashiach. It makes me think of what I heard in Israel on a trip that Hashem doesn’t waste anything. He wanted the bloodline of David to come through Jacob, and this is the path He chose. We don’t know why. But, we do know He often makes something perfect out of something not-so-good. 

Today’s Challenge: 

Have you ever tricked or manipulated a situation to get what you want? I have. Especially when I was younger, before I had a deep relationship with Hashem, I would use my friend to get things I wanted at her expense. I would talk her into stealing her mother’s credit card to buy cigarettes and alcohol for us to party with. It was wrong, and I am regretful to this day. Did anything good come out of my ill behavior? The only good thing I can attest to is that Hashem has used my past experiences to minister to others in trouble. I understand what they are going through, because I have been through the same experience. If you were involved in something you regretted with another person, think about how G-d used it all for good. It will help you to realize that G-d does not waste anything—even our bad experiences.

Vayeshev - Day #3

Vayeshev וַיֵּשֶׁב - And He Settled  

Torah Portion: Genesis 37:1 - 40:23

Genesis 37:23–36

37:23 When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him; 24 and they took him, and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty. There was no water in it.

25 They sat down to eat bread, and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing spices and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. 26 Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, and let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not let our hand be on him; for he is our brother, our flesh.” His brothers listened to him. 28 Midianites who were merchants passed by, and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. The merchants brought Joseph into Egypt.

29 Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph wasn’t in the pit; and he tore his clothes. 30 He returned to his brothers, and said, “The child is no more; and I, where will I go?” 31 They took Joseph’s tunic, and killed a male goat, and dipped the tunic in the blood. 32 They took the tunic of many colors, and they brought it to their father, and said, “We have found this. Examine it, now, and see if it is your son’s tunic or not.”

33 He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. An evil animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces.” 34 Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. He said, “For I will go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” His father wept for him. 36 The Midianites sold him into Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard.

Today’s Meditation: 

Doesn’t Hashem always provide a way of escape? Here is Joseph, thrown into a waterless pit, left to die. And along comes a caravan of men to rescue him. The brothers see this and seem to be alright with it. In fact, they devise a plan to prove to their father that he is dead (blood on his tunic). The Torah is full of people, just like you and me, who are not perfect by any measure and who make distinctly bad choices. The point is, Joseph is rescued and sold. He lives. Maybe not the life he had, but he has been given another chance. Hashem is like that. I can think of many times in my life when He saved me from a challenging situation. Sometimes miraculously. If you need rescuing right now, look up to Him and ask Him to save you.

Today’s Challenge: 

Today, look around you and see if you know of anyone who has fallen into a pit—someone who may be suffering from loneliness, depression, or hopelessness. See if you can find a way to lift them out of their darkness. Pray for them and ask Hashem how you could be of help. You may be surprised. Your first step may be to visit them, talk, and listen. Hashem will show you what is next. They will be blessed, and so will you.

Vayeshev - Day #2

Vayeshev וַיֵּשֶׁב - And He Settled  

Torah Portion: Genesis 37:1 - 40:23

Genesis 37:12–22

37:12 His brothers went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem. 13 Israel said to Joseph, “Aren’t your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them.” He said to him, “Here I am.”

14 He said to him, “Go now, see whether it is well with your brothers, and well with the flock; and bring me word again.” So he sent him out of the valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. 15 A certain man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field. The man asked him, “What are you looking for?”

16 He said, “I am looking for my brothers. Tell me, please, where they are feeding the flock.”

17 The man said, “They have left here, for I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’”

Joseph went after his brothers and found them in Dothan. 18 They saw him afar off, and before he came near to them, they conspired against him to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Behold, this dreamer comes. 20 Come now therefore, and let’s kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, ‘An evil animal has devoured him.’ We will see what will become of his dreams.”

21 Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand, and said, “Let’s not take his life.” 22 Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.

Today’s Meditation: 

Joseph’s brothers plot to kill him. It appears that the special “privilege” given to Joseph has really upset his brothers, which is a totally normal reaction. But, to be upset and to plan to kill someone are two different reactions. Reuben stands up for Joseph (sort of) and recommends they don’t kill him, just throw him in the pit, and someone will discover him. So, he can learn his lesson.

Have you ever wanted to throw someone off a cliff? Maybe not physically, but in your heart, you have despised them and hoped they would die? Or perhaps even you have said or done hurtful things to this person because of your jealousy of them? This is the root of gossip. When we are jealous or offended by someone else, we often want to talk negatively about them to get back at them. It’s not right, and if you have done or are doing this, you must stop. Hashem does not like gossip and considers it a sin. It can keep you from a right relationship with Hashem. Amend your ways and seek forgiveness.

Today’s Challenge: 

I have already given you a challenge in the section above. To stop gossiping. I once heard it said that if you couldn’t say something to someone’s face, then you should probably not say it at all. If you are talking to someone and they start gossiping, tell them you would rather not participate in the conversation without the person you are talking about being present. We can learn to stop gossiping and gently teach others to do the same.

Vayeshev - Day #1

Vayeshev וַיֵּשֶׁב - And He Settled  

Torah Portion: Genesis 37:1 - 40:23

Genesis 37:1–11

37 Jacob lived in the land of his father’s travels, in the land of Canaan. 2 This is the history of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. Joseph brought an evil report of them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a tunic of many colors. 4 His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, and they hated him and couldn’t speak peaceably to him.

5 Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: 7 for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and behold, your sheaves came around, and bowed down to my sheaf.”

8 His brothers asked him, “Will you indeed reign over us? Will you indeed have dominion over us?” They hated him all the more for his dreams and for his words. 9 He dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brothers, and said, “Behold, I have dreamed yet another dream: and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed down to me.” 10 He told it to his father and to his brothers. His father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Will I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves down to the earth before you?” 11 His brothers envied him, but his father kept this saying in mind.

Today’s Meditation: 

Here is an interesting Bible Study for you—Google Joseph’s coat of many colors. I did so and found that maybe this coat did not have many colors, but it could have actually been made of white wool. Also, the Hebrew translation could mean that the coat was long and had long sleeves, a symbol of someone of royal or important status, and of someone who did not do menial work. No wonder Joseph’s brothers were a little upset about all this. Joseph was definitely his father’s favorite and was given special privileges. Maybe try and look it up and see what you can find out. 

Today’s Challenge: 

Do you ever treat one of your children in a more special way than the others? Have you ever said, “You are my favorite child?” Families can mistakenly do that. Maybe with the oldest or the youngest, singling them out as somehow better than the other kids. Search your heart and see if this is true. If it is, try to find some special time with your other children (whether young or adult) and make sure they understand that all your children are equal and you love them all the same. Perhaps point out something very special that you love about this particular one (the one you're talking to) and make them feel special. You may even address that if they have heard or thought they heard that you favored another sibling, that it was simply not true and a misunderstanding. This is super important. You want your children to know that they are all loved equally. That they are all special in your eyes. 

Vayishlach - Day #7

Vayishlach, וַיִּשְׁל - And He Sent  

Torah Portion: Genesis 32:4-36:43

Haftarah: Hosea 11:7-12:12, 

Obadiah 1:1-21

Shabbat: Genesis 36:20–43

36:20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the chiefs who came of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom. 22 The children of Lotan were Hori and Heman. Lotan’s sister was Timna. 23 These are the children of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. 24 These are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. This is Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness, as he fed the donkeys of Zibeon his father. 25 These are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah. 26 These are the children of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. 27 These are the children of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. 28 These are the children of Dishan: Uz and Aran. 29 These are the chiefs who came of the Horites: chief Lotan, chief Shobal, chief Zibeon, chief Anah, 30 chief Dishon, chief Ezer, and chief Dishan. These are the chiefs who came of the Horites, according to their chiefs in the land of Seir.

31 These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the children of Israel. 32 Bela, the son of Beor, reigned in Edom. The name of his city was Dinhabah. 33 Bela died, and Jobab, the son of Zerah of Bozrah, reigned in his place. 34 Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place. 35 Husham died, and Hadad, the son of Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place. The name of his city was Avith. 36 Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place. 37 Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the river, reigned in his place. 38 Shaul died, and Baal Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place. 39 Baal Hanan, the son of Achbor, died, and Hadar reigned in his place. The name of his city was Pau. His wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.

40 These are the names of the chiefs who came from Esau, according to their families, after their places, and by their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth, 41 chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon, 42 chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar, 43 chief Magdiel, and chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession. This is Esau, the father of the Edomites.

Today’s Meditation:

Here is a history of Esau’s descendants, Including Kings and Chiefs. For some reason, this history and these particular names are essential. In today's world, we don’t pay much attention to ancestry or the recording of names and family trees (some people do). I tried to go back just to my grandparents and their parents, and it took me years to find names and cities of birth. And quite honestly, because my great-grandparents were in Poland, I have very little information about them. It has been impossible to get details. However, when we read the Torah, we see that great detail is given to names in ancestral lines. Maybe we should try this too. You can start today and record all the relatives you know by name. 

Today’s Challenge:

Today, you can start making a family tree. Start with those you know. And start researching. Visit a website like Ancestry.com and sign up. It is worth every penny. Typically, you can accomplish a great deal in a month. It is crucial to do this for your children and grandchildren. Our ancestors have interesting and some life-changing stories. It’s time you recorded them.

This Week’s Haftarah: Hosea 11:7-12:12, Obadiah 1:1-21

Hosea 11:7-12:12

My people are determined to turn from Me.

  Though they call to the Most High,

    He certainly won’t exalt them.

8 “How can I give you up, Ephraim?

    How can I hand you over, Israel?

    How can I make you like Admah?

    How can I make you like Zeboiim?

My heart is turned within Me,

    My compassion is aroused.

9 I will not execute the fierceness of My anger.

    I will not return to destroy Ephraim:

    for I am Elohim, and not man; the Holy One among you;

    and I will not come in wrath.

10 They will walk after Hashem,

    who will roar like a lion;

    for he will roar, and the children will come trembling from the west.

11 They will come trembling like a bird out of Egypt,

    and like a dove out of the land of Assyria;

and I will settle them in their houses,” says Hashem.

12 Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood,

    and the house of Israel with deceit.

    Judah still strays from Elohim,

    and is unfaithful to the Holy One.

12:1 Ephraim feeds on wind,

    and chases the east wind.

    He continually multiplies lies and desolation.

    They make a covenant with Assyria,

    and oil is carried into Egypt.

2 Hashem also has a controversy with Judah,

    and will punish Jacob according to his ways;

    according to his deeds he will repay him.

3 In the womb, he took his brother by the heel;

    and in his manhood he contended with Elohim.

4 Indeed, he struggled with the angel and prevailed;

    he wept, and made supplication to him.

    He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with us,

5     even Hashem, the Elohim of Armies;

    Hashem is His name of renown!

6 Therefore, turn to your Elohim.

    Keep kindness and justice,

    and wait continually for your Elohim.

7 A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand.

    He loves to defraud.

8 Ephraim said, “Surely I have become rich,

    I have found myself wealthy.

    In all my wealth, they won’t find in me any iniquity that is sin.”

9 “But I am Hashem your Elohim from the land of Egypt.

    I will yet again make you dwell in tents,

    as in the days of the solemn feast.

10 I have also spoken to the prophets,

    and I have multiplied visions;

    and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables.

11 If Gilead is wicked,

    surely they are worthless.

In Gilgal, they sacrifice bulls.

    Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field.

12 Jacob fled into the country of Aram,

    and Israel served to get a wife,

    and for a wife, he tended flocks and herds.

Obadiah 1:1-21

The vision of Obadiah. This is what Hashem Elohim says about Edom. We have heard news from Hashem, and an ambassador is sent among the nations, saying, “Arise, and let’s rise up against her in battle. 2 Behold, I have made you small among the nations. You are greatly despised. 3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high, who says in his heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’ 4 Though you mount on high as the eagle, and though your nest is set among the stars, I will bring you down from there,” says Hashem. 5 “If thieves came to you, if robbers by night—oh, what disaster awaits you—wouldn’t they only steal until they had enough? If grape pickers came to you, wouldn’t they leave some gleaning grapes? 6 How Esau will be ransacked! How his hidden treasures are sought out! 7 All the men of your alliance have brought you on your way, even to the border. The men who were at peace with you have deceived you, and prevailed against you. Friends who eat your bread lay a snare under you. There is no understanding in him.”

8 “Won’t I in that day”, says Hashem, “destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mountain of Esau? 9 Your mighty men, Teman, will be dismayed, to the end that everyone may be cut off from the mountain of Esau by slaughter. 10 For the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame will cover you, and you will be cut off forever. 11 In the day that you stood on the other side, in the day that strangers carried away his substance, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots for Jerusalem, even you were like one of them. 12 But don’t look down on your brother in the day of his disaster, and don’t rejoice over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction. Don’t speak proudly in the day of distress. 13 Don’t enter into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity. Don’t look down on their affliction in the day of their calamity, neither seize their wealth on the day of their calamity. 14 Don’t stand in the crossroads to cut off those of his who escape. Don’t deliver up those of his who remain on the day of distress. 15 For the day of Hashem is near all the nations! As you have done, it will be done to you. Your deeds will return upon your own head. 16 For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so will all the nations drink continually. Yes, they will drink, swallow down, and will be as though they had not been. 17 But in Mount Zion, there will be those who escape, and it will be holy. The house of Jacob will possess their possessions. 18 The house of Jacob will be a fire, the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble. They will burn among them, and devour them. There will not be any remaining to the house of Esau.” Indeed, Hashem has spoken.

19 Those of the South will possess the mountain of Esau, and those of the lowland, the Philistines. They will possess the field of Ephraim, and the field of Samaria. Benjamin will possess Gilead. 20 The captives of this army of the children of Israel, who are among the Canaanites, will possess even to Zarephath; and the captives of Jerusalem, who are in Sepharad, will possess the cities of the Negev. 21 Saviors will go up on Mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau, and the kingdom will be Hashem’s.

Today’s Haftarah Meditation:

In Obadiah 1:15, we read a fearful admonition, “For the day of Hashem is near all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you. Your deeds will return upon your own head.” Nations and the people within them believe that they can cheat, kill, and steal without repercussion. Simply not true. A nation may get away with sin for a while, but not for long. Every deceitful nation has been brought down throughout the centuries. Now the country I live in, the United States of America, is also in trouble. For over 50 years, we have legalized abortion, and over 60 million babies have had their lives terminated in the womb. The womb is supposed to be the safest place in the world; now it is truly unsafe. There will be (and has been) a severe consequence from Hashem for what we have done. We have blood in our land, and that is one of the seven things that Hashem detests (Proverbs 6:16-19). Only sincere, heartfelt prayer and repentance will save us. 

Today’s Haftarah Challenge: 

Take a minute to reflect on any negative actions you have imposed on others. You most certainly would not like to be treated that way. Write them down. Repent and make amends. If you are unable to make amends directly to the people you have hurt, then go to Hashem and do it through Him. Otherwise, be fearful for your “deeds will return upon your own head.” That would not be very good. Let’s avoid that if we can.