Parshas Vayeishev - pasukim aleph - zayin Flashcards
Where do we come in?
Yaakov had 4 wives = 1) rochel 2) Leah 3) Zilpah 4) Bilhah
He had 12 sons in total = shevatim
his fav wife = Rochel = fav child = Yosef
how do we view tzadikim and their mistakes in the torah?
since tzadikim r on such a high level - their mistakes are taken much more seriously/deeply
(rashi) וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב Why is it focusing of yaakovs descents and no Aesavs ?
what is the parable?
Yaakovs decedents did more meaningful things vs assay
just like a man is searching through sand to find a jewel - he keeps the jewel and throws out the sand
jewel = Yaakov
sand = esav
Rashis second explanation./ second parable
Abt why we mention Yaakovs descendants and not eisav
a blacksmith sees a wheat dealer carrying wheat - he asks who will deal w/ all of this
the man answered one spark of ur fires will destroy this in moments
SO TO - Yaakov saw the generations of esav and got worried = this is hashes response to the spark that’s consuming esiav
Rashi אֵ֣לֶּה | תֹּֽלְד֣וֹת יַֽעֲקֹ֗ב
why does it only mention yosef
what abt the other brothers
it says אֵ֣לֶּה | תֹּֽלְד֣וֹת יַֽעֲקֹ֗ב יוֹסֵ֞ף for several reasons
1) Yaakov worked hard for rochel = yosefs mother
2) yosefs face was identical to Yaakov
3) Yaakov and yosef went through the same things (both were hated, both brothers tried to kill them)
Rashi: וְה֣וּא נַ֗עַר
what does it mean by נַ֗עַר? it already mentioned he was 17
(who is this talking abt)
1) his actions were childish - did his hair, touched up his eyes so he could be good looking
2) Yosef
Rashi: אֶת־דִּבָּתָ֥ם
What were the bad reports?
whenever he saw his brothers doing wrong - he would tell on them to his father 1) eating live animals 2) calling maidservants sons "slaves" 3) were behaving immorally b/c of this midday kneeled middah happened 1) his coat was dipped in animal blood 2) became a slave for potifar 3) rotifers wife tried to seduce him
Ramban: והוא נער את בני בלהה
Rashi seems to think that yosef was friends w/ the sons of bilhah and zilch, but why didn’t they prevent him from being sold?
Ramban says Yosef was telling on the sons of bilhah and zilpa (just on a lower level)
the sons of Leah didn’t like yosef because of yaakovs favoritism towards him
Rashi: בֶן־זְקֻנִ֥ים (son of old age)
what does it mean by that?
(3 explanations)
also who is the son of old age?
1) had him @ a old age
2) another explanation: he was a wise son to him - everything Yaakov learnt in yeshivah Shem and ever he taught to yosef
3) his facial features were similar to yaakovs
Ramban:
Q: Yosef is only a few years younger than his brothers, why is he the only בֶן־זְקֻנִ֥ים
(2 answers)
1) It was custom for an elder to pick a younger kid to care for them in their old age - yaakove picked Yosef
2) Yaakov felt yosef was more wiser and mature
Sefarno:
Q: what is the כְּתֹ֥נֶת פַּסִּֽים
(what is the torah teaching us)
Yaakov gave yosef a coast to signify to him and the brothers = that he will be a leader (royal robes)
The torah is noting that ur clothes represent ur status/way you’re perceived
Chizkuni
Q1: Why yosef and not binyamin?
Q2: why the coat?
A1: binyamin was an active reminder of Rochel’s death
2) פַּסִּֽים - compensation
Yaakov felt the need to compensate yosef for being an orphan so he gave him a fancy coat
Rashi: וְלֹ֥א יָֽכְל֖וּ דַּבְּר֥וֹ לְשָׁלֹֽם
Q: what can we learn from the words “couldn’t speak peacefully?”
We can infer something good of them
they didn’t say one thing w/ their mouths and another w/ their hearts
2 sides: don’t be fake but also be nice/respectful
Sforno: וְלֹ֥א יָֽכְל֖וּ דַּבְּר֥וֹ לְשָׁלֹֽם
what is the torah saying
This was a mistake on yosefs part - that he allowed his internal feelings pf favoritism show to his other sons
The torah isn’t saying he was wrong to feel this, only to act on these feelings
Q: yosef must’ve known his dream would anger the brothers why would he tell them?
Genuinely
he was young & immature = genuinely didn’t realize it would upset them
