Yehuda's Speech

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1. Yosef's Teshuva

   Rabbi Amnon Bazak

   The second half of the book of Genesis describes the Teshuva process of Yaakov’s sons. The first to repent is Reuven; who had tried to prevent the selling of Yosef; and by this atone for his act with Bilhah. Next; Yehuda atones for his actions in the Tamar incident; and goes so far as to offer himself in exchange for Benjamin. Finally; all of the brothers atone for the sin of selling Yosef by proclaiming “we are guilty.” Yosef also undergoes a process of Teshuva; by purchasing land from the Egyptians; and by concealing his brothers’ sin from his father.

2. Vayera and Vayigash: Avraham's Approach to Sodom

   Rabbi David Silverberg

3. Yehuda's Monologue: Reading Between the Lines

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

   A “Rashomon” is a situation in which a specific event is described by a number of people with contradicting narratives. Can we find examples of "Rashomon," or at least something similar, within the Chumash? This is unlikely, as the events are written by the omniscient God, Whose version of any story needs no verification. However, when the narrative itself omits its objective description of events, providing them only through the mouths of the biblical characters, then we may speak of "Rashomon" even in the Chumash. By studying the story of Yosef we can see if we perhaps may categorize this drama as Rashomon. Only here, the conflict arises between the narrative itself and one of the characters.

   Yehuda's report to Yosef of the brothers' discussion with their father upon their return from Egypt deviates somewhat from the Torah's account in last week's parasha. By carefully examining the second part of Yehuda's monologue, we can identify these changes and determine the reason behind them.

4. Yehuda's Plea and its Audiences

   Rabbi Chanoch Waxman

   Yehuda’s plea to the second-in-command of Egypt is reminiscent of Abraham’s prayer for justice. The tripartite structure of Yehuda’s plea includes appeals to mercy and to justice. But there is a third part which does not seem to belong - a spontaneous outburst about his father. What does this surprising addition reveal?

5. Yehuda vs. Tamar as Background to Yehuda vs. Yosef

   Prof. Jonathan Grossman

   The story of Yehuda and Tamar can be presented as a literary backdrop to the encounter between Yehuda and Yosef, not only because of chiastic similarity, but also because of the perfect analogy between the two images. On the one hand, it highlights Yehuda's identification with Yaakov, the identification of fathers who have lost children and who fear for the fate of their remaining son. On the other hand, it also highlights Yehuda's special quality of putting himself on the line for others: correcting the wrong that he did to Tamar, and illuminating the darkness of Egypt with his great selflessness on behalf of his younger brother.

6. Yehuda's Father

   Rabbi David Silverberg

7. Did Yosef intend to Keep Binyamin in Egypt - and Why did He Change his Plan?

   Rabbi David Silverberg

8. Yehuda's Hostility to the Egyptian Official

   Rabbi David Silverberg

9. Yehuda's Argument to Yosef

   Rabbi David Silverberg

10. For You Are Like Pharaoh

    Rabbi David Silverberg

11. "In My Master's Ear" - Yehuda's Suspicion

    Rabbi David Silverberg

12. Yehuda Approaches Yosef

    Rabbi David Silverberg

13. For your servant has pledged himself for the boy…

    Rabbanit Dr. Michal Tikochinsky