Welcome to Temple Beth Ami
Welcome To Temple Beth Ami
  • Home Page
  • About Us
    • Clergy
    • Staff
    • Leadership
    • Membership
    • 50th Anniversary
    • Policies and Inclusion
    • Contact Us
    • Rentals
    • History
    • Events
    • Judaica Shop
  • Jewish Life
    • Shabbat
    • Holidays and Festivals
    • Lifecycle
      • Bereavement
      • Birth
      • B’nei Mitzvah
      • Confirmation and Graduation
      • Marriage
      • TBA Cares
    • Israel
    • Torah Blog
  • Education
    • Early Childhood
    • Machane TBA (Religious School)
    • Summer Programs
      • Gan Ami Summer Program
        (Age 2 – Pre-K)
      • Kayitz 2023
        (Grades K-7)
    • Adult Education
  • Get Involved
    • Monthly Calendar of Events
      • January 2023
      • February 2023
    • Social Action
      • Tikkun Olam Committee
      • Love Thy Neighbor
        (Addressing Racial Injustice)
      • Community of Action
      • Critical Issues Forum:
        Advocacy for Social Justice
    • Jewish Book Council Events
    • TBA TV
    • Social Groups
    • Member Support
  • Donate
  • Contact Us
  • Members
    • ShulCloud
    • Financial Assistance
    • B’nei Mitzvah Preparation
    • Judaica Shop
    • Events

Events Calendar

« February 2023 » loading...
S M T W T F S
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
1
2
3
4
Fri 03

Meaning & Mensches: A Family Shabbat Experience
Fri. Feb. 3 (6:30pm)

February 3 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Sat 04

Torah Study
Saturdays 9 am – 10 am

February 4 @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Sat 04

Shabbat Morning Service
Celebrating the Bar Mitzvah of Nick Palanker
Sat. Feb. 4 (10:30am)

February 4 @ 10:30 am - 11:30 am
Sun 05

Back to Basics course
Sunday mornings (10-11:30 am)
Taught by Rabbi Pokras & Rabbi Weiss

February 5 @ 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Sun 05

WTBA Winter & Spring Virtual Yoga

February 5 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

VaYigash – 5783
Genesis 44:18 – 47:27 

Rabbi Gary Pokras 

This week the Joseph story reaches its dramatic climax. Joseph has severely tested his brothers to see if they have changed their ways. Judah, the ringleader who threw Joseph into the pit and then lied to their father about what happened, finally makes a real teshuvah (true repentance/changing of his ways), demonstrating that he has learned from his mistakes. Not realizing that it is Joseph before whom he pleads, Judah approaches (vayishlach) the viceroy’s throne to beg for the release of Benjamin, the new favored son, and offers himself as a slave in Benjamin’s place. 

There is tremendous risk in Judah’s action, even beyond offering himself as a slave. First, just approaching the throne was dangerous. The Egyptian equivalent of the secret service could have quickly intervened, with lethal force. Second, approaching the throne is an act which creates intimacy – and that may have been considered impolitic or disrespectful according to the Egyptian court etiquette of addressing such a powerful leader. Who knew what the penalties for such breach might have been? 

Yet how else could Judah make a true teshuvah? How else could he plead for his brother’s life? 

Making teshuvah, for any of us, requires us to approach each other, to come closer. Rabbi Jim Ponet reminds us that there is always risk in such circumstances, noting that the Hebrew word for close (karov) is related to the Hebrew word for battle (k’rav). Similarly, bread (lechem) and war (milchamah) share a root. Bridging gaps always brings the risk of conflict or harm, yet without making ourselves vulnerable, we can never heal the wounds we have inflicted or the rifts we have created. 

Judah chose to risk not only rejection, but his very life. In return, Joseph was so moved that he too drew closer to his brothers, and openly wept as he revealed himself and welcomed them to safety in Egypt. VaYigash teaches us that teshuvah is anything but easy. It also teaches us that the healing teshuvah can bring is worth the risk. 

Torah Blog Archives

  • BeShallach (Shabbat Shira) 5783  Ex. 13:17 – 17:16 
  • Bo 5783 Exodus 10:1 – 13:16 
  • VaEra 5783  Exodus 6:2 – 9:35 
  • Shemot 5779  Exodus 1:1 – 6:1 
  • VaYigash – 5783  Genesis 44:18 – 47:27
  • Miketz – 5783 
    Genesis 41:1—42:27 

  • VaYeishev – 5779  Genesis 37:1 – 40:23
  • VaYishlach – 5779  Genesis 32:4 – 36:43 
  • Toledot – 5780  Genesis 25:19 – 28:9 
  • Chayei Sarah – 5780  Genesis 23:1 – 25:18 
  • VaYeira – 5779  Genesis 18:1 – 22:24
  • Lech Lecha – 5779  Genesis 12:1 – 17:27
  • Noach – 5778  Genesis 6:9 – 11:32 
  • Bereshit – 5779 Genesis 1:1 – 6:8
  • Ki Tavo (Selichot) 5872  Deut. 26:1 – 29:8 
  • Ki Tetze 5872  Deut. 21:10 – 25:19 
  • Shoftim 5872 Deut. 16:18 – 21:9
  • Re’eh 5782  Duet. 11:26-16:17 
  • Ekev 5872  Deut. 7:12 – 11:25 
  • VaEtchanan 5872  Deut. 3:23 – 7:11 
Powered by

RJ Web Builder 3.0

Shop and support Temple Beth Ami
Amazon Logo
Contact the Webmaster with questions or comments about this site
Temple Beth Ami, 14330 Travilah Road Rockville MD, 20850
301-340-6818