The Real Difference Between Joseph and His Brothers - Parshah Vayeishev

Autoplay Next

Joseph and His Brothers: Parshah Vayeishev

In the verse (Genesis 37:4) "[Joseph's] brothers could not speak to him peaceably," the Hebrew word "shalom" (peace) is missing a letter vav. The real reason for the lack of peace between Joseph and his brothers was that they could not comprehend Joseph's view that a Jew can and must bring light into a dark world.

Handouts:	Vayeishev
Audio:	Listen to Audio \| Download this MP3
Topics:	Peace, Ohr L'amim; Light to the Nations, Parshah, Joseph and his Brothers, Joseph

Aaron L. Raskin

Rabbi Aaron L. Raskin is the official Chabad emissary to downtown Brooklyn, rabbi of Congregation B’nai Avraham in Brooklyn Heights, New York and Dean of Brooklyn Heights Jewish Academy. He is the author of the books, “Thank You God for Making Me a Woman", "Letters of Light", "By Divine Design", and "Guardian of Israel", and the co-author of "The Rabbi & The CEO".

More in this section

20:00
Dreams and the Message of Chanukah
25:00
Reproductive Power
25:00
May G-d Make You Like Ephraim and Menashe

25:00
Moses, Maimonides and the Alter Rebbe
25:00
Moses and Pharaoh, Good and Bad Speech
View All »

Join the Discussion

Sort By:

NewestOldest

2 Comments

Joseph Solomon Orlando, Fl. December 4, 2015

How true, yet so Disappointing... This is why Chabad is so successful today it’s because it fulfills the very mission Gd has requested of the world, of creation, albeit largely only within the Tribe. Even without considering the veracity of the philosophy, and though it suffers from excessive self-involvement and a lack of real effort and concern for the salvation of the gentile world, Chabad studies and maintains a strict observance of Gdliness that reaches beyond personal consideration in hopes all Beit Yisrael experience Life i.e. Chabad uncovers the sparks of Gdliness within a vessel/body bringing it into this world-throughout the world. This the Torah urge –unselfishly go into the world take with you a burning desire for Gd and an unyielding willingness to awaken souls and the Creat-r of Heaven/Earth will see to your success for the sake of the created. Today as a standard, and as Chabad enjoys its success, it and Beit Yisrael, pessimistically avoid the Yosef part of its mission fulfilling only 1/2 of its mission. Reply

Anonymous Mesa, Arizona, USA December 16, 2011

The Real Difference Between Joseph and His Brother Thank you so much for this wonderful teaching Rabbi Raskin. It gave me the understanding of how we can maitain our faith in Hashem, Blessed be His Name, although we are living in this world. Many times I implore to the Eternal G-d how difficult it is for a woman alone to handle certain situations. But He, Blessed be He, always speaks to me in a very special way. To comfort, and strengthen me with His precious presence by letting me know how close is my Redeemer. Again, thank you it is a beautiful teaching and I appreciate it so much. Reply

Joseph and His Brothers: Parshah Vayeishev

More in this section

You may also be interested in...

Join the Discussion