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Parsha Naso – Repairing Ourselves

May 28, 2015 by Russell McAlmond

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There are certain concepts which are important to recognize in Judaism.  One is that we have free will – we decide – we are not forced to do things.  Two, that we are accountable for the choices we make because we have free will to make them.  In this week’s parsha of Naso we are told to accept personal responsibility for our actions, not to avoid them, and to make restitution for the harms or crimes we commit.  In other words, it is not society’s fault that we chose to take these actions – it is our fault – and we are personally responsible for them.

According to Maimonides, one of the codifiers of Jewish law, one of the thirteen principles of Judaism is that there is reward and punishment for human behavior.  We are responsible and accountable for what we do.  Too often, in contemporary society, we try to shift blame to parents, socio-economic level and other outside sources that supposedly cause our bad behavior.  There is no doubt that life may be more difficult for some than for others.  Nonetheless, no one is forced to commit crimes or hurt others.  These are individual choices and we are responsible individually for them, not society.

We learn from our mistakes unless we don’t take responsibility for them.  By denying that our mistakes are made by our free will, we will never grow to become better human beings.  “Tikkum olam” is the goal of “repairing the world”, not perfecting it.  We will never be perfect – but we can learn from our mistakes by admitting to them, making restitution and striving to repair ourselves.

 

Filed Under: Jewish Text (Torah/Haftarah/Talmud) Tagged With: accountability, miamonides, Parsha Naso, rambam, responsibility, tikkun olam

Brotherhood (Parshat Vayigash) by Gordon Haber

December 7, 2010 by Patrick Beaulier

This week’s dvar Torah comes from our friend and author Gordon Haber, who we met at Jewlicious Festival last year. Interested in writing a dvar for PunkTorah? Email questions@punktorah.org to get started!

In Parashat Vayigash, Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers. After a moving
speech from Judah—in which he begs to be enslaved in Benjamin’s stead, thus
sparing their father the grief of losing another favored son—Joseph clears the room
and announces, “I am Joseph; does my father yet live?”
A lot more happens in the parashat, but this first “scene” contains a number of
lessons. Rashi reminds us that Joseph orders the Egyptians from the room to spare
his brothers any embarrassment. And the Rambam teaches that true repentance is
reached when one has the opportunity to repeat a sin, but chooses to do otherwise.
Thus Judah, who, some twenty years earlier, had suggested that the brothers sell
Joseph into slavery, redeems himself with his offer.
But I am touched, instead, by the message of reconciliation and forgiveness between
brothers. Joseph reminds them that “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you have sold
unto Egypt.” But immediately thereafter he puts them at ease. Don’t grieve, he says.
Don’t be angry with yourself. It was God’s will that you sent me here, “to preserve
life” during a time of famine; and God put me before you so that you too can be
delivered.
Genesis is packed with complicated fraternal relationships—Cain and Abel,
Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his seething brothers. Only in the latter do we see
an uncomplicated generosity of spirit. Granted, Joseph puts them to the test; but
ultimately he is instrumental in their safety and prosperity.
This story is a kind of harbinger to that of Moses and Aaron, who rejoiced in each
other. But in this parashat I also see the frustrations and rewards of brotherhood.
Joseph, the papa’s boy, the tattletale, the bragging dream-teller in a gaudy coat, has
matured. Judah, who participated in his brother’s enslavement, has repented.
If it is an extreme example of what can go wrong between siblings, it nonetheless
contains a powerful message: we are our brothers’ keepers.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj8hqtS4kXA

Filed Under: Jewish Text (Torah/Haftarah/Talmud) Tagged With: am i my brother's keeper, Brotherhood (Parshat Vayigash) by Gordon Haber, convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, darshan yeshiva, Joseph, online conversion, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier, rambam

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