PunkTorah

Independent Jewish Spirituality Online

  • Convert to Judaism
  • Online Rabbinical Program
  • Donate

Did God Cause the Sandy Hook School Tragedy? Parsha Vayigash + Torah Video Mashup

November 30, 2013 by Patrick Beaulier

There’s an old saying that everything happens for a reason.

In this week’s Torah portion, Vayigash, Joseph finally reveals his identity to his brothers.

The brothers are overcome by shame and remorse for what they did to Joseph. But Joseph says something very interesting to them. Joseph says, “It was not you who sent me here, but G‑d. It has all been ordained from Above.”

Some people believe that God is in control of everything. To them I ask, “where was God at Sandy Hook elementary school?” Was it God’s plan that children be murdered? What it God’s plan that a young man be mentally ill?

If it is part of God’s plan, then what could this possibly say about our God?

And if this wasn’t part of God’s plan, then does God have a plan at all?

And if God doesn’t have a plan, then what does it mean for God to be God?

Some people [Read more…]

Filed Under: Jewish Text (Torah/Haftarah/Talmud), Podcasts & Videos Tagged With: convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, D'var Torah, darshan yeshiva, online conversion, Parsha Vayigash, parshah vayigash, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier, sandy hook, sandy hook elementary, sandy hook school, school shooting, this week's torah portion

Parsha Vayigash: Brother of Mercy (Gen 44:18 – 47:27)

December 27, 2011 by Jeremiah

Seriously, is there anyone out there who does not like a nice happy ending? The previous portions dealing with Joseph are burdened with some really heavy events, for someone with so many highs and lows in their life it is kind of nice that his story ends relatively quiet and understated. Vayigash is the portion where Joseph breaks into tears revealing himself to his brothers, he is reunited with his beloved and in a way estranged father, and he relocates his entire family to Egypt so they will be closer to him.

Joseph up until this point is the quintessential conservative archetype, he worked hard building himself up in wealth and power while maintaining an uncompromising stance in blind faith and “got over” being a slave and prisoner. The Joseph of Vayigash is the polar opposite of this approach, he provides land for his reconciled family to live on using his status as a statesmen, he also negotiates with the populace securing all the land and resources in Egypt for Pharaoh and his government creating a socialized large government, and it works with great success.

What really stood out to me this week is what transpires at the end of the Parsha, where Joseph barters back the land of Egypt from the locals for Pharaoh. As much as I might try to block out what is about to happen in the coming week’s portions in regards to the Hebrews in Egypt I just can not do it. People are not born racist, they are taught racism and yet in a way you can’t teach racism because when you think about it being racist is an impossible state of being for humans what is not is being an “economist.” Living my entire life in the United States stereotypically Jews and East Asians are viewed as smart and crafty but not industrious, anyone with black or brown skin is often portrayed as lazy and dim witted and of course not industrious. The industrious people of American society are the white Christians all of whom have built and maintain the only world super power. This is all ridiculous non-sense but we can see a parallel with our modern society and ancient Egypt. The Torah never mentions Joseph hiding the fact he was a foreign ex-slave who served hard time in prison, because he was able to provide for everyone he was excepted and loved as was his tribe by proxy. As the generations passed the Egyptians forgot about how Joseph showed mercy and treated all like a brother and his kinsmen became the others of society and thus a liability.

What do you think? Was Joseph driven by mercy? How has your views on other cultures within your own changed over the years? Please share post a comment below or send me a message jeremiah@punktorah.org Twitter: circlepitbimah.

Filed Under: Community Member Blogs, Jewish Text (Torah/Haftarah/Talmud) Tagged With: Circle Pit The Bimah, convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, darshan yeshiva, genesis, jeremiah, Joseph, online conversion, Parsha Vayigash, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier, race relations

PunkTorah Inc.
PO Box 1641
Midlothian, VA 23113

questions@punktorah.org
YouTube
Facebook

Read our DMCA notice

Search the PunkTorah Blog Archive

What We Do

Pluralistic Rabbinical Seminary: Online Rabbinical Program

Now Hiring: Rabbis, Educators & Creatives

Become a Jewish Spiritual Leader

  • Jewish Text (Torah/Haftarah/Talmud)
  • Judaism & Belief
  • The G-d Project Videos
  • Podcasts & Videos
  • NewKosher (Recipes)
  • Converting To Judaism
  • LGBTQ & Women
  • Shabbat & Holidays

Copyright PunkTorah Inc.© 2023