| What is Shabbat Shalom? 
Jews all over the world read a portion of the Torah, the Five Books of Moses, in the synagogue every Shabbat morning. The cycle begins right after the Feast of Tabernacles and concludes the following year at the end of the Feast of Tabernacles. Traditionally, Jewish families discuss the Torah portion at their Shabbat Table, bringing new insights, each year, to the same inspirational words and stories that they have been reading for years. In this weekly column, Sondra Oster Baras, CFOIC Heartland's Israel Director, shares her personal reflections on the weekly Torah portion.
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Vayeshev (and He (Jacob) Settled)
Genesis 37:1 - 40:23
This week's portion begins the story of Joseph, beginning with Genesis chapter 37. We learn that Jacob favors Joseph and buys him a striped coat, which results in the brothers' terrible jealousy of him. Joseph is introduced to us as a dreamer and as he interprets his dreams, it becomes clear that he sees himself as superior to his brothers. The story progresses, or actually regresses, until the brothers plot to kill Joseph, then sell him to a caravan of traders instead. Joseph is brought to Egypt, sold as a slave and the portion ends with him in prison.
The resolution of this story will play itself out in subsequent chapters, but it is the sale of Joseph by his brothers that lies at the core of all that happens in this portion. In the middle of the portion, clearly interrupting the flow of the story, is the story of Judah and Tamar. But this story is carefully placed in order to present a different Judah, a man who has clearly strayed from righteousness, and is suffering for it. His sons have been killed by G-d, he visits a prostitute (or so he thinks) and is willing to have his daughter-in-law killed. Following the sale of his brother Joseph, a horrendous crime in which he played a central role, Judah is a troubled man.
The unity of the brothers is unraveling. How is it that these jealous, warring brothers will become a unified nation able to serve G-d and receive His commandments at Sinai?
The bondage in Egypt will play a critical role in forging the nation. The nation of Israel will not emerge from slavery a perfect nation. But they will have become a nation and will leave Egypt as one. Perhaps it is Pharaoh who helps this process along - for when he enslaves the children of Israel and then decrees that all Jewish boys must be put to death, he creates a common destiny for all of the children of Israel.
Centuries later, in the second century of the common era, there were 10 martyrs of Israel, scholars and rabbis who were put to death by the Romans for their insistence on maintaining their faith, teaching the Torah and keeping G-d's commandments. These were very righteous men and their wisdom and teachings are studied to this very day. On Yom Kippur, there is a portion of the prayer service that tells the story of these 10 martyrs and states a curious reason for their horrible suffering - the sale of Joseph by his brothers. Clearly, these 10 martyrs, living so many centuries after the sale could not be held responsible for that event. Also, by ascribing their suffering to such a distant event, it is clear that these men were righteous and their personal deeds did not bring such a terrible fate upon them.
I can't begin to give an answer as to why these 10 men were killed. But I believe the prayer service is making a profound connection between the sale of Joseph and centuries of Jewish history. The sale of Joseph is the epitome of civil war, of sibling rivalry at its ugliest and most dangerous. The second Temple period, the last centuries before the common era and the first century of the common era was rife with division and downright hatred within the Jewish people. Our sages consider this to be the primary reason for the destruction of the Temple.
The sale of Joseph was a terrible crime and forshadows the worst times in our history, when Jew fought against Jew. Since the destruction of the Second Temple, the Jewish people have been united in their absolute refusal to fight against one another. We are vociferous and often argue loudly and vehemently, but we will not resort to violence or civil war.
It took centuries, but we finally did learn the lesson of the sale of Joseph. Perhaps the death of the 10 martyrs actually sealed the chapter on this issue and forever seared the idea in our collective consciousness that we will never resort to civil war. Perhaps, like the bondage in Egypt, it was the hatred directed against us as a nation that helped to solidify this consciousness.
Many wondered why the Jews of Gush Katif were not violent - did not use weapons to defend their homes and property. Thank G-d, the lesson of Joseph's sale remains strong.
Shabbat Shalom from Samaria, Sondra Sondra Baras Director, Israel Office
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May 23 - June 2, 2011 Israel Tour
 With Pastor Gary Cristofaro,
First Assembly of God, Melbourne, FL
May 23rd - June 2nd, 2011
Eilat Extension
June 3rd- June 6th
Israel Host for the Tour: Sondra Oster Baras, Director,
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| The Choosing of a Chosen People A 5 part series on Genesis by Sondra Oster Baras 
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