the Torah reading of Vayigash starts mid sentence, following the cliff-hanger anding of last week's Torah reading Miketz. With Binyomin (Benjamin) framed by the Egyptain viceroy Tzafnas Pa'aneach (Yosef/Joseph) thre brothers face the looming catastrophe of the loss of the last reminaing child of Yaakov (Jacob)'s favoured wife Rachel.
This week begins with Yehuda (Judah) stepping forth to confront the Egyptian leader and do all he can to save his borther. Then in the great plot twist Yosef reveals his true identity, and the whole episode transforms from catastrophe to salvation.
Yet the theme of 'vayigash' literally drawing near, involves far more than fraternal reconciliation. Yehuda's speech is one of the longest recorded in Torah, and adds nothing that we do not already know. Within its meanidering lie subtle clues that this is not merely a healing of the brothers and their relationships, but a reconstruction of Yaakov Avinu, our forefather Jacob, and the ability of the nation to survive exile, to live with difference and treu be truly diverse and truly one.
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