Jewish Texts

Joseph teaches us to use our material success in the service of those who are needy.

By personally handing out rations, Joseph established a human connection and involvement with those for whom he provided.

Joseph's warning to his brothers not to quarrel on their way instructs us as well in our relationships with our families and the larger Jewish community.

Living after the Civil Rights Movement, we, like the children of Jacob, have the opportunity to carry the ideals of previous generations into the future.

Both Jacob and Joseph understood the importance of imbuing their descendants with a commitment to the Land of Israel.

Jacob and the Jewish people have learned powerful lessons from the experience of exile.

Joseph teaches us to temper love with a sense of duty and a knowledge of right and wrong.

Despite Jacob's negative experiences with favoritism, he repeats this trait in his own family and home.

Jacob and his family's evolving relationship with God illustrates the complex struggle with faith and monotheism.

The brothers could not speak peacefully with Joseph because they allowed their anger and resentment to control them.

Parashat Vayeshev teaches us the importance of ensuring that we enact justice in light of the ease with which our systems of justice can be abused.

We can learn from Jacob's encounter with Esau to meet others as we would meet God.