At every Keshet board meeting, a member shares a d’var Torah inspired by the weekly Torah portion. This week, Estella Levin, Keshet board member and GADOL team member, worked with Bat-El Lieberman, Keshet’s Jewish Enrichment & Culture Facilitator, to share her thoughts on Parashat Va-Yehi, the final portion in the book of Genesis.
Good evening!
This week, we are reading the last parsha in the book of Genesis—Parashat Va-Yehi.
The first chapter of our history is coming to an end, and next week, we will start a new chapter, a new book—Exodus. Genesis concludes with the death of Joseph, and Exodus begins with the story of the Jewish people many years later.
Joseph must have been a very important figure. His actions and life had a profound impact on his family and the future of our people.
Instead of focusing solely on this week’s story, I want to share a Midrash that connects these two books. The Midrash Tanchuma, Parashat Vayeshev, Section 1, states: “Rabbi Elazar said: A person must be careful not to favor one child over another, for because of two sela’im worth of fine wool that Jacob gave to Joseph more than to his other sons, his brothers became jealous of him. These events led our people to be slaves in Egypt.”
This teaching illustrates how small actions can lead to significant outcomes. It links Genesis, where Jacob’s family lived peacefully, to Exodus, where they became enslaved in Egypt.
At Keshet, as you know, we don’t have “favorites” because everyone is a favorite. That’s the beauty of inclusivity and making each individual feel valued.
This story reminds us how important it is to consider the way we treat others. Jacob gave one of his sons a special coat, which sparked jealousy among his brothers. That jealousy led to Joseph being sold into slavery in Egypt, ultimately bringing Jacob’s family there. Many years later, this family grew into a nation and became slaves under Pharaoh.
It also makes me wonder: what might have happened if Jacob had given each of his sons a coat? How different would their story—and ours—be?
Thank you for listening!
