We return to a focus on the first word of the Torah portion--va-yigash., a word that only appears in the book of Genesis in the Torah Michael (MichaelStrassfeld.com) mjstrassfeld@gmail.com
This week’s Torah portion opens with the climactic moment in the story of Joseph and his brothers. Joseph has decided to test his brothers to see whether they have changed from when they sold him into slavery. Last week Joseph accused his brothers, specifically Benjamin, of theft. This week’s portion begins with Judah approaching Joseph to plead for Benjamin. The Torah portion begins with the verb va-yigash/he approached.
The word va-yigash appears only five times in the Torah—all in the book of Genesis. Each use describes an important encounter. The first, in Gen. 18:23, follows the episode of the angels visiting Abraham in his tent. God says: “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do (destroying Sodom and Gomorrah)…For I have singled him out …to keep the way of God by doing what is just and right.” God tells Abraham the plan. Abraham responds by approaching God (va-yigash) and says: “Shall not the judge of all the earth deal justly?” We learn from this exchange that to follow God’s way is to do what is just and right. This includes speaking truth to power, even God. Va-yigash appears again in the story when Jacob deceives his father to get the blessing meant for Esau. A blind Isaac asks Jacob to approach so he can feel whether this is his hairy son, Esau (Gen. 27: 22). Jacob approaches his father (va-yigash) and is blessed. In verse 27, he again approaches his father to kiss him. This duplicity will lead to Esau’s hatred of Jacob and Jacob’s need to flee his family for Haran. Encounters based on lies lead to bad results.
Arriving at a well at Haran, he sees Rachel, and va-yigash--he approaches the love of his life. This is certainly a momentous encounter for Jacob.
Finally, this week’s Torah portion begins when Judah approaches the Egyptian vizier (really Joseph), to appeal for Benjamin, the only other child of Joseph’s mother Rachel. Perhaps this action demonstrates to Joseph that his brothers will act on behalf of a brother rather than abandon him. Or maybe it is because Judah has encountered the events of his life and is ready to move on.
In response Joseph says: I am Joseph. The brothers are at a loss for words. Joseph says geshu alai—approach me. He repeats that he is their brother, but crucially adds “whom you sold into slavery.” Joseph makes clear that all is not forgotten, but it is forgiven This is the climactic va-yigash/ encounter (Gen. 44:12; 45:3-4).
This is a model of real encounter, which involves not just encountering the other person, but begins by encountering oneself. It is a model for us to be willing to approach, va-yigash, the truth and encounter the moment.
Existence will remain meaningless for you if you yourself do not penetrate
into it with active love and if you do not in this way discover its meaning for
yourself. Everything is waiting to be hallowed by you; it is waiting to be
disclosed in its meaning and to be realized in it by you.
Martin Buber (adapted)
Song:
Habad rikud/dance niggun
I chose this niggun because the melody moves back and forth just as we withdraw and approach moments of encounter.
