This weeks Torah Thoughts by Rabbi David Vorspan ~ In this week’s Torah portion, Miketz, we find ourselves in the middle of the Joseph narrative. Joseph’s brothers have returned to Egypt a second time, and Joseph, still concealing his true identity, greets them with the words, “How is your aged father of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” It has been more than 20 years since he has seen his father. During those years, alone in a strange land, Joseph had been haunted by this terrible fear: Was his aged father still alive? The brothers answer they he is still in good health. But this is a question which we should continue to ask in our own lives: “Is our father still in good health?” Are the teachings of our parents flourishing? If they have passed on, how have we continued their legacy? The Shabbat I became a Bar Mitzvah, this was my Torah portion. And each year on the anniversary of that day, I remember not only the lessons I shared in my speech to the congregation, but the lessons my parents shared with me during my life. They have both passed on, but this Shabbat, as I will again chant from the Torah, I will be thinking of them. I think of them all the time, but Shabbat Miketz becomes the benchmark of how faithfully I have carried their lessons in my heart and in my deeds.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 16:28:01 +0000
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