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Dear RTFH Family,
The coming week is a quiet one at RTFH, with winter break and schools closed.
Perhaps you are headed on vacation. Maybe you’re taking some quiet time or seeing family and friends.
We often talk about the challenges of family gatherings—navigating old hurts, historical grievances, or contemporary differences. However, Joseph might have had it harder than any of us. In this week’s Torah portion, Vayigash, Joseph comes face-to-face with the eleven brothers who once sold him into slavery and led their father to believe he was dead.
Before revealing his identity, Joseph tests his brothers to see if they have genuinely changed, even going so far as to accuse his youngest brother, Benjamin, of theft. While I certainly do not recommend trying that particular tactic at your next family dinner, the result is transformative: the brothers leap to Benjamin’s defense, proving their growth
and devotion.
The turning point occurs when Joseph says to his brothers, “Come forward to me.” Earlier, Judah began the portion by “approaching” (Vayigash) Joseph to advocate for his brother. The Torah reminds us here that healing rarely happens at a distance; it requires the courage to step forward and close the gap.
If Joseph and his brothers could find a path to reconciliation after such a profound betrayal, we, too, can find ways to take those small steps toward healing our own family pains. This quiet week offers us the space to consider where those bridges might be built.
Is there a “step forward” you have been hesitant to take? How might this season of rest provide the space to begin that journey?
L’shalom,
Rabbi Mark
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