In this weeks parsha, Vayeshiev, we learn about how Jacob settles in Hebron with his 12 sons. The Torah says where each son settled and what happens to him.

Jacob favors one son, Joseph. Jacob goes out of his way to make a colorful coat for his favorite son, making his other sons jealous.  How would you feel if your parent favored your sibling over you? Would you plot to kill your sibling? I doubt that.  Jacobs brothers Shimon and Levi plot to kill him but their other brother decided against that idea.

Instead they dip the special coat in blood and tell their father that Joseph was killed by a wild animal. Little did their father know, that he was not killed but sold to slavery in Egypt.

This parsha is so relevant, much more than you may think. In the last couple of months, the Jewish people, and entire the world for that matter, have been enduring terrible tragedies.  It often seems as if there is no hope for the future.

In the Parsha this week (and next) we do however, find a surprising yet beautiful message of hope.  How so?  It is true that this weeks parsha includes many difficult times. At the same time, the parsha ends with the some foreshadowing of Yosef.  We soon come to learn that Yosef was able to interpret dreams of Pharoah and save the population from a terrible famine.  Awesome.  We also learn that Yosef was able to set the stage of for the eventual reunification with his family!  Again, awesome.  We have to always remember that there is a beautiful light at the end of every dark tunnel and if we can learn to love our brothers and sisters, we can increase that light and get all of the darkness behind us!

Shabbat Shalom!

Matana Bracha Zwiren

REBO 2015/16 Secretary