Difference between revisions of "Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Miketz/0/he"

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<h1>נושאים לשולחן שבת – פרשת מקץ</h1>
 
<h1>נושאים לשולחן שבת – פרשת מקץ</h1>
<category>Does Time Heal All Wounds?
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<category>האם הזמן מרפא את כל הפצעים?
<p>Yosef reunites with his brothers in Egypt more than twenty years after his sale.&#160; Those years were filled with trials and tribulations, but they end with a triumphant rise to power.&#160; Upon seeing his family again, what does Yosef feel?&#160; Is he filled with resentment or have time and good fortune allowed his anger to dim?&#160; Does he seek revenge or is he ready to forgive?</p><ul>
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<p>Yosef reunites with his brothers in Egypt more than twenty years after his sale.&#160; Those years were filled with trials and tribulations, but they end with a triumphant rise to power.&#160; Upon seeing his family again, what does Yosef feel?&#160; Is he filled with resentment or have time and good fortune allowed his anger to dim?&#160; Does he seek revenge or is he ready to forgive?</p>
<li>Which of the above do you think motivates <a href="Yosef's Treatment of his Family" data-aht="page">Yosef's Treatment of his Family</a> upon their arrival in Egypt?&#160; How do you reconcile Yosef's harsh interactions and framing of Binyamin on the one hand, with his simultaneous bestowing of gifts and returning of his siblings' monies on the other?</li>
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<ul>
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<li>איזה גורמים מאלו אתם חושבים הם המניעים ל<a href="Yosef's Treatment of his Family" data-aht="page">התנהגות יוסף כלפי משפחתו</a> upon their arrival in Egypt?&#160; How do you reconcile Yosef's harsh interactions and framing of Binyamin on the one hand, with his simultaneous bestowing of gifts and returning of his siblings' monies on the other?</li>
 
<li>How much truth is there in the adage, "time heals all wounds"?&#160; If you were in Yosef's shoes, could you put the past behind you?&#160; Which emotions would be paramount for you?</li>
 
<li>How much truth is there in the adage, "time heals all wounds"?&#160; If you were in Yosef's shoes, could you put the past behind you?&#160; Which emotions would be paramount for you?</li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</category>
 
</category>
<category>Leaders in Exile
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<category>מנהיגים בגלות
<p>The narratives of Yosef, Megillat Esther, and the Book of Daniel all take place in exile and, unsurprisingly, contain many parallels one to another.&#160; See <a href="Yosef and Megillat Esther" data-aht="page">Yosef and Megillat Esther</a>, <a href="Yosef and Daniel" data-aht="page">Yosef and Daniel</a>, and <a href="Yosef, Esther, and Daniel" data-aht="page">Yosef, Esther, and Daniel</a>.</p><ul>
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<p>The narratives of Yosef, Megillat Esther, and the Book of Daniel all take place in exile and, unsurprisingly, contain many parallels one to another.&#160; ראו <a href="Yosef and Megillat Esther" data-aht="page">יוסף ומגילת אסתר</a>, <a href="Yosef and Daniel" data-aht="page">יוסף ודניאל</a>, ו<a href="Yosef, Esther, and Daniel" data-aht="page">יוסף, אסתר, ודניאל</a>.</p>
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<ul>
 
<li>What does each story teach about life under foreign rule and, more specifically, what it means to be a Jew in a position of leadership in exile?&#160; Are the challenges faced by the Biblical protagonists comparable to those faced by leaders today?</li>
 
<li>What does each story teach about life under foreign rule and, more specifically, what it means to be a Jew in a position of leadership in exile?&#160; Are the challenges faced by the Biblical protagonists comparable to those faced by leaders today?</li>
<li>Is it justified for a leader to compromise their Jewish values in order to maintain a position of power that will enable them to advocate for their nation? Should a leader's goal in the Diaspora be simply survival, or an active promotion of their beliefs and religion? How did each of Yosef, Esther, and Daniel answer these questions?<fn>For more, see <a href="Yosef, Esther, and Daniel" data-aht="page">Yosef, Esther, and Daniel</a>,&#160; <a href="Esther's Relations with Achashverosh" data-aht="page">Esther's Relations with Achashverosh</a> and <a href="Mordechai's Refusal to Bow" data-aht="page">Mordechai's Refusal to Bow</a>.</fn></li>
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<li>Is it justified for a leader to compromise their Jewish values in order to maintain a position of power that will enable them to advocate for their nation? Should a leader's goal in the Diaspora be simply survival, or an active promotion of their beliefs and religion? How did each of Yosef, Esther, and Daniel answer these questions?<fn>לעוד, ראו <a href="Yosef, Esther, and Daniel" data-aht="page">יוסף, אסתר, ודניאל</a>,&#160; <a href="Esther's Relations with Achashverosh" data-aht="page">יחסי אסתר ואחשורוש</a>,&#160; ו<a href="Mordechai's Refusal to Bow" data-aht="page">"וּמָרְדֳּכַי לֹא יִכְרַע וְלֹא יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה"</a>.</fn></li>
 
<li>In both the stories of Yosef and Megillat Esther, Hashem works behind the scenes, whereas in the Book of Daniel, His miraculous intervention is explicit. What might be the reason for the difference?&#160; Do you think that Hashem's providence is generally less prominent in exile than in the Land of Israel?</li>
 
<li>In both the stories of Yosef and Megillat Esther, Hashem works behind the scenes, whereas in the Book of Daniel, His miraculous intervention is explicit. What might be the reason for the difference?&#160; Do you think that Hashem's providence is generally less prominent in exile than in the Land of Israel?</li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</category>
 
</category>
<category>Yosef the Righteous?
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<category>יוסף הצדיק?
<p>In Rabbinic literature, Yosef is frequently referred to as "יוסף הצדיק".&#160; Yet, some commentators have suggested that Yosef actually began to assimilate in Egypt.&#160; With which portrait do you agree?&#160; What evidence can you bring to support each position?</p>
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<p>בספרות חז"ל, יוסף מתואר לרוב כ"יוסף הצדיק".&#160; Yet, some commentators have suggested that Yosef actually began to assimilate in Egypt.&#160; With which portrait do you agree?&#160; What evidence can you bring to support each position?</p>
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
 
<li>To what extent was Yosef personally responsible for his brothers' hatred of him?&#160; Does he learn from his mistakes as the narrative progresses?</li>
 
<li>To what extent was Yosef personally responsible for his brothers' hatred of him?&#160; Does he learn from his mistakes as the narrative progresses?</li>
<li>Yosef names his son Menashe, "כִּי נַשַּׁנִי אֱלֹהִים אֶת כׇּל עֲמָלִי וְאֵת כׇּל בֵּית אָבִי".&#160; Does this suggest that Yosef actively decided to turn his back on his family and heritage? How (if at all) did Yosef's religious identity change over the course of his stay in Egypt?<fn>See&#160;<a href="Yosef's Treatment of his Family" data-aht="page">Yosef's Treatment of his Family</a> for more.</fn></li>
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<li>Yosef names his son Menashe, "כִּי נַשַּׁנִי אֱלֹהִים אֶת כׇּל עֲמָלִי וְאֵת כׇּל בֵּית אָבִי".&#160; Does this suggest that Yosef actively decided to turn his back on his family and heritage? How (if at all) did Yosef's religious identity change over the course of his stay in Egypt?<fn>ראו <a href="Yosef's Treatment of his Family" data-aht="page">התנהגות יוסף כלפי משפחתו</a> להרחבה.</fn></li>
 
<li>What leads people to either stray from their faith or to return to it?</li>
 
<li>What leads people to either stray from their faith or to return to it?</li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</category>
 
</category>
<category>Man Playing God
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<category>אדם משחק א-לוהים
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li>According to <multilink><a href="RambanBereshit42-9" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanBereshit42-9" data-aht="source">Bereshit 42:9</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Nachman</a></multilink>, Yosef's actions in Egypt were guided by a desire to fulfill his dreams.&#160; He contends that dreams are a form of prophecy and a person who is granted such knowledge is obligated to actualize Hashem's will.&#8206;&#160; Abarbanel challenge this assumption, asserting that it is the responsibility of Hashem, and not man, to bring prophecies to fruition.&#160; With whom do you agree?</li>
+
<li>לפי <multilink><a href="RambanBereshit42-9" data-aht="source">רמב״ן</a><a href="RambanBereshit42-9" data-aht="source">בראשית מ״ב:ט׳</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' משה בן נחמן</a></multilink>, Yosef's actions in Egypt were guided by a desire to fulfill his dreams.&#160; He contends that dreams are a form of prophecy and a person who is granted such knowledge is obligated to actualize Hashem's will.&#8206;&#160; Abarbanel challenge this assumption, asserting that it is the responsibility of Hashem, and not man, to bring prophecies to fruition.&#160; With whom do you agree?</li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li><multilink><a href="AbarbanelBereshit43-33" data-aht="source">Abarbanel </a><a href="AbarbanelBereshit42-7" data-aht="source">Bereshit 42:7</a><a href="AbarbanelBereshit43-33" data-aht="source">Bereshit 43:33</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel</a></multilink>himself claims that Yosef inflicted suffering on his brothers in order to help them attain penance for their sins toward him. Yosef wanted them to be punished in this world, to spare them a worse punishment in the World to Come.&#160; Is punishing his brothers any more Yosef's job than fulfilling prophecies?</li>
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<li><multilink><a href="AbarbanelBereshit43-33" data-aht="source">אברבנאל</a><a href="AbarbanelBereshit42-7" data-aht="source">בראשית מ״ב:ז׳</a><a href="AbarbanelBereshit43-33" data-aht="source">בראשית מ״ג:ל״ג</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' יצחק אברבנאל</a></multilink>himself claims that Yosef inflicted suffering on his brothers in&#160; order to help them attain penance for their sins toward him. Yosef wanted them to be punished in this world, to spare them a worse punishment in the World to Come.&#160; Is punishing his brothers any more Yosef's job than fulfilling prophecies?</li>
<li>See <a href="Yosef's Treatment of his Family" data-aht="page">Yosef's Treatment of his Family</a> for more.</li>
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<li>להרחבה, ראו <a href="Yosef's Treatment of his Family" data-aht="page">התנהגות יוסף כלפי משפחתו</a>.</li>
 
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<p>לעוד נושאים בפרשה, ראו: <a href="Parashat Miketz/TopicList" data-aht="page">רשימת נושאים – פרשת מקץ</a>.</p>
 
<p>לעוד נושאים בפרשה, ראו: <a href="Parashat Miketz/TopicList" data-aht="page">רשימת נושאים – פרשת מקץ</a>.</p>
 
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Version as of 05:44, 24 July 2019

נושאים לשולחן שבת – פרשת מקץ

האם הזמן מרפא את כל הפצעים?

Yosef reunites with his brothers in Egypt more than twenty years after his sale.  Those years were filled with trials and tribulations, but they end with a triumphant rise to power.  Upon seeing his family again, what does Yosef feel?  Is he filled with resentment or have time and good fortune allowed his anger to dim?  Does he seek revenge or is he ready to forgive?

  • איזה גורמים מאלו אתם חושבים הם המניעים להתנהגות יוסף כלפי משפחתו upon their arrival in Egypt?  How do you reconcile Yosef's harsh interactions and framing of Binyamin on the one hand, with his simultaneous bestowing of gifts and returning of his siblings' monies on the other?
  • How much truth is there in the adage, "time heals all wounds"?  If you were in Yosef's shoes, could you put the past behind you?  Which emotions would be paramount for you?

מנהיגים בגלות

The narratives of Yosef, Megillat Esther, and the Book of Daniel all take place in exile and, unsurprisingly, contain many parallels one to another.  ראו יוסף ומגילת אסתר, יוסף ודניאל, ויוסף, אסתר, ודניאל.

  • What does each story 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 the Biblical protagonists comparable to those faced by leaders today?
  • Is it justified for a leader to compromise their Jewish values in order to maintain a position of power that will enable them to advocate for their nation? Should a leader's goal in the Diaspora be simply survival, or an active promotion of their beliefs and religion? How did each of Yosef, Esther, and Daniel answer these questions?1
  • In both the stories of Yosef and Megillat Esther, Hashem works behind the scenes, whereas in the Book of Daniel, His miraculous intervention is explicit. What might be the reason for the difference?  Do you think that Hashem's providence is generally less prominent in exile than in the Land of Israel?

יוסף הצדיק?

בספרות חז"ל, יוסף מתואר לרוב כ"יוסף הצדיק".  Yet, some commentators have suggested that Yosef actually began to assimilate in Egypt.  With which portrait do you agree?  What evidence can you bring to support each position?

  • To what extent was Yosef personally responsible for his brothers' hatred of him?  Does he learn from his mistakes as the narrative progresses?
  • Yosef names his son Menashe, "כִּי נַשַּׁנִי אֱלֹהִים אֶת כׇּל עֲמָלִי וְאֵת כׇּל בֵּית אָבִי".  Does this suggest that Yosef actively decided to turn his back on his family and heritage? How (if at all) did Yosef's religious identity change over the course of his stay in Egypt?2
  • What leads people to either stray from their faith or to return to it?

אדם משחק א-לוהים

  • לפי רמב״ןבראשית מ״ב:ט׳אודות ר' משה בן נחמן, Yosef's actions in Egypt were guided by a desire to fulfill his dreams.  He contends that dreams are a form of prophecy and a person who is granted such knowledge is obligated to actualize Hashem's will.‎  Abarbanel challenge this assumption, asserting that it is the responsibility of Hashem, and not man, to bring prophecies to fruition.  With whom do you agree?

עוד...

לעוד נושאים בפרשה, ראו: רשימת נושאים – פרשת מקץ.