Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Miketz/0/en
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Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Miketz
Does Time Heal All Wounds?
When Yosef meets his brothers in Egypt it has been over twenty years since the sale. Those years were filled with trials and suffering, but ended with a triumphant rise to power. Upon seeing his family again, what do you think Yosef feels? Is he filled with resentment, or have time and good fortune allowed his anger to dim? Does he seek revenge or forgiveness? Does he desire to reunite or to forget?
- Which of the above do you think motivates Yosef's Treatment of his Family upon their arrival in Egypt? How do you understand both Yosef's harsh interrogations, and framing of Binyamin and his simultaneous giving of gifts and returning of the sibling's monies?
- To what extent do you agree with the adage, "time heals all wounds"? If you were in Yosef's shoes, do you think you could put the past behind you? Which emotions would be paramount for you?
Leaders in Exile
The narratives of Yosef, Megillat Esther and the Book of Daniel all take place in exile.
- What does each teach about life under foreign rule, and more specifically, what it means to be a Jew in a position of leadership in exile? Are the challenges faced by Yosef, Esther and Daniel comparable to challenges faced by leaders today?
- Is it justified for a leader to compromise on their Jewish values in order to maintain a position of power and enable them to advocate for their nation?
- In both the story of Yosef and Megillat Esther, Hashem works behind the scenes, whereas in the Book of Daniel His miraculous intervention is more obvious. Is Hashem's providence generally less prominent in exile than in the Land of Israel?
