"Now Yosef recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him." (Genesis 42:7) Recognition, or the lack of it, plays a consistent role in the story of Yosef and his brothers. We recall that the first time a call to recognition is employed is when the brothers bring Yosef's blood-stained tunic to his father Yaakov, and say to him, rather coldly, "We have found this; now recognize whether it is your son's coat or not." (ibid 37:32) This sounds more like a police detective asking a next of kin, and not like brothers inquiring of their brother's splendidly unique and recognizable coat to their beloved father. But of course they are covering up their crime, and by doing so, they are, ironically, expressing their own devastating lack of recognition to the heinous transgression they have committed. Yaakov, naturally "recognized it, and he said, "It is my son's coat; a wild beast has devoured him; Yosef has surely been torn up," (ibid 37:33) and so the tragic tale takes another heartwrenching turn.
The next time someone is called upon to recognize an object is when Tamar, the daughter-in-law of Yehudah, sends to him the signet ring he had depositied with her, with the message "Please recognize whose signet ring, cloak, and staff are these." (ibid 38:25) Yehudah, like his father before him, recognizes the object immediately, and also recognized immediately his own former sin which ultimately brought about his present predicament: "Then Yehudah recognized them, and he said, 'She is right, it is from me, because I did not give her to my son Shelah.'" (ibid 38:26) This recognition, and contrition, of an earlier failing, is a quality hitherto unmentioned in the book of Genesis. It is a new spiritual phenomenon being expressed. His recognition of his own error leads him to publicly state his guilt and quickly make amends, rescinding his death sentence against Tamar and accepting that she is carrying his baby. As a result of his recognizing, confessing and righting his wrong, a child is born, Peretz, whose great-great grandson will be King David, whose most enduring quality, teshuva - recognizing, confessing and righting a wrong - he inherited from his forefather Yehudah.
Now the brothers are standing before the most powerful man in Egypt, save Pharaoh, and he is their brother Yosef, whom they threw in a pit and sold to a caravan of Midianites twenty years before, and "Yosef recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him." (ibid 42:7) How can it be that they don't recognize their own brother, the very brother whose impetuous behavior so troubled them that they sold him into slavery and led their father to believe that he was devoured by wild beasts? Wouldn't they have been haunted by their crime, waking up each night in a cold sweat seeing Yosef's pained face before them? Wouldn't each day have been a torturous path to tread? The Torah sage Rashi suggests that Yosef's beard, which he didn't sport as a mere lad of seventeen, is what effectively hides his features from his brothers. It is, after all, twenty years later and Yosef is wearing the garments of Egyptian royalty including headgear. Twelve years in prison also has an effect on a man's visage. Yet there is no closer relationship than that of brothers, and even today we hear of cases of brothers separated as children during the Holocaust who seventy years later reunite and immediately recognize their long-lost sibling. What prevented the ten brothers from recognizing Yosef?
Strife between brothers began, of course, with the world's first brothers, Cain and Abel. Cain recognized his brother Abel, but he did not recognize the G-d given bond of brotherhood, killing Abel in a fit of jealousy, and asking G-d, rhetorically, "Am I my brother's keeper?" Twenty three generations later and the brothers, standing before Yosef, have yet to answer that question. It is the sin that they have committed toward Yosef which has sealed their hearts and dimmed their eyes. Only until they can recognize the cloak and signet ring of their own actions will their eyes be opened and their hearts free of the pain of their deed. Only then will they be able to begin the healing process of teshuva - recognizing, confessing and righting a wrong - and once again recognize and embrace their brother Yosef. Yosef, whose behavior as a young boy distanced his brothers, now possesses the wisdom and wherewithal to bring them near again. He leads his brothers through the torturous path of recalling, reliving, regretting and recognizing their sin. Only once they have completed this process will they again recognize the man that stands before them as their brother Yosef. Only then will all twelve brothers be able to emphatically state, "Yes, we are our brothers' keepers!" It will be three more generations before the children of Israel emerge from Egypt as the nation of Israel, but it is right here, in the process of recognition that we are all one another's brothers, the children of G-d, that the nation of Israel first comes into being.
Tune into this week's Temple Talk, as Rabbi Chaim RIchman and Yitzchak Reuven discuss the United Nations Resolution 2334 and Chanukah, concluding that it's the same old same old, and confirming that “The Hands are the Hands of America.” And, yes, a very special thanks to outgoing President Obama and all our dear friends at the United Nations - for reminding us what Chanukah is all about!
This week’s special Chanukah edition of Temple Talk is hosted by two men who have been deemed international criminals by the United Nations – together with many hundreds of thousands of Israelis, who live their lives, together with their families, in homes that the United Nations has deemed to have been built on land ‘in flagrant violation under international law.’ Join Yitzchak Reuven and Rabbi Chaim Richman, who connect the dots between outgoing President Obama and King Antiochus, between UN Resolution 2334 and Chanukah, and between Yosef and his brothers, and the contemporary issues facing the Jewish people today. A joyous and light-filled Chanukah to all our listeners, from Temple Talk!
Yosef wasn't a saint who was immune to the same temptations that we all struggle with. He was, however, a tzadik - a righteous man - who was able to overcome his own potential for downfall by staying focused on who he was - a son of the Hebrews - and the plan that G-d had assigned him to fulfill in life. Click here to view Rabbi Richman's teaching on parashat Miketz, (Genesis 41:1 - 44:17).
6TH NIGHT CHANUKA: "You delivered the strong into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few, the impure into the hands of the pure, the wicked into the hands of the righteous, and the wanton in to the hands of those who concern themselves with Your Torah..." (from the Chanukah prayer) Click here.
John Kerry's 'American Values & Principles': President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry have teamed up one last time (let's hope) to strike with diplomatic terror at the heart of Jerusalem, Israel's united and eternal capital, and the home of the Temple Mount, the place of the Holy Temple. Click here to see our graphic response!
Ultra-Orthodox Jews Embrace the Temple Mount: On Tuesday of this week a large contingent of tens of Haredi (ultra-orthodox) Jews ascended the Temple Mount to pray for the health of Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman and Rabbi Zion Mutzafi. According to reports the group was able to pray unhindered by the police. Click here to learn more and see photos.
Temple Institute Blasts UNSC Resolution: Following the United Nations Security Council resolution against Israel, the Temple Institute released the following statement: As more facts emerge which implicate the Obama administration in a deliberate attempt to isolate Israel internationally, let us not forget..." Click here to read the full statement.
100's of Jewish Worshipers Ascending the Temple Mount During These Days of Chanukah: This week of Chanukah, (only in its 4th day) has already seen 100's of Jews upon the Temple Mount. Click here to see photos.
Commemorating Chanukah Miracles: Then & Now! "As we commemorate the Chanukah miracle, the Temple Institute thanks you for participating in the modern day miracle of building the Holy Temple in our days!"
Throughout the eight days of Chanukah we will present to all who donate $36 or more, a beautiful, personalized photograph of the Golden Menorah created by the Temple Institute which stands in Jerusalem's Old City, overlooking the Temple Mount. This high resolution Chanukah memento (18x27 inches, 45x68 centimeters) will be inscribed with your name. It can be downloaded and printed. Help us celebrate the spirit of the Maccabees: Faith in the G-d of Israel and determination to bring His light to the world! Click here to participate!
Watch 3 Classic Temple Institute Chanukah Video Teachings! First recorded between 2009 - 2011, these three video teachings featuring Rabbi Chaim Richman delve into the spiritual significance and message of Chanukah. Click here to watch one, or all three!
Chanukah: More Than Eight Great Days! Today we celebrate eight days of Chanukah, but during some 250 years following the victory of the Macabees over the Greek/Assyrian tyrant Antiochus, until the destruction of the Second Temple by the Roman general Titus, the eight day Chanukah celebration was only one of a number of days set aside for commemorating the Hasmonean victory over our enemies, and the reversal of the evil decrees imposed upon the Jews of the land of Israel, by Antiochus, who sought to uproot the Torah, banishing the light of G-d from the world, and casting humanity into a perpetual darkness. Click here to learn more!
6 Youths Detained After Lighting Chanukiah Outside Temple Mount Gates: Sunday evening six youths were detained by police after they lit a Chanukiah outside Sha'ar HaBarzel and Sha'ar HaKutnah (the Iron Gate and the Cotton Merchant's Gate) of the Temple Mount. They were questioned by police and released. Click here.
Chanukah on the Temple Mount! The Temple Mount - THE place to be on Chanukah! May we soon rededicate the stone altar and rekindle the golden menorah and renew the Divine service in the Holy Temple, as our fathers did in the days of the Maccabees! Click here.
The Golden Menorah: Moving Closer to its Destination: Watch This Classic Video! On the second night of Chanukah, 5768 (December 6, 2007), the golden menorah prepared by the Temple Institute and fit for use in the Holy Temple, was moved from the archaeological site of the Roman Cardo in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, to its new location, alongside the Yehudah Halevi staircase leading from the Jewish Quarter to the Western Wall Plaza. There it overlooks the Temple Mount, site of the future Holy Temple. A small move, perhaps, for the golden menorah, but a giant leap forward for mankind, as the rebuilding of the House of G-d becomes one step closer. Click here to view.
JUST IN TIME FOR CHANUKAH! HOLY TEMPLE MYTH BUSTERS: PART I - INTRODUCTION:
We must wait for Moshiach to build the Holy Temple. Fact or myth?
The Holy Temple will descend ready-made from heaven. Fact or myth?
Building the Holy Temple will cause World War III. Fact or myth?
Rabbi Chaim Richman provides the answers from the sources of Torah wisdom to these questions and many more in this multi-part series which will bust all of the myths that have come to clutter Jewish thought concerning the building of the Holy Temple and its significance to the entire world. Click here to view!
Help To Build The Holy Temple In Our Time: Donate Generously To Help The Sacred Work Of The Temple Institute! Every contribution helps to rebuild the Holy Temple in our Time!
Interested in Ascending the Temple Mount? Contact us via our website, email us at infotempleinstitute@gmail.com or via our Facebook page. For more information on ascending the Temple Mount in purity, please click here.
Blessings from the holy city of Jerusalem,
Yitzchak Reuven
The Temple Institute
THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE
PO Box 31876
Jerusalem, Israel 97500
www.templeinstitute.org
