Remember Us

As the book of Genesis draws to a close we will say good-bye to the last of the Patriarchs. Jacob hears HaShem's voice calling him home. Even though he lived in Egypt for seventeen years it was never his home. In his request to not be buried in Egypt he was leaving a message for all his descendants. If we listen it is a message for us as well beloved. Don't get to comfortable in your exile, you are but a stranger here, this is not your true home.

Joseph himself will make the same request but not before making one final prophecy. He says in Genesis 50:24-25,"to his brethren he said, I die, but G*D will surely remember you, and bring you up out of this land to the land which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel saying, G*D will surely remember you, and you shall carry up my bones from here." Midrash says that Joseph's coffin remained out in the open, unheard of in ancient Egypt, a land of tombs and pyramids. For the next 300 or so years the children of Israel would pass by that coffin. It was a reminder to them of Joseph and his prophecy. It was also a reminder to G*D. Please do not forget your promise, we don't belong here, please do not leave us here in Egypt!!!!!!!

Be strengthened by this message beloved. The creator of all things will surely remember us. He will bring us out of this land and bring us back to the land He promised to Abraham, Issac and to Jacob. Rabbi Yehonasan Gefen teaches us that as we conclude the Book of Genesis, we should reflect on the lessons it teaches us. Over and over we see an emphasis on empathy for others - shifting the focus away from our individual, self-centered concerns in order to be as sensitive as possible to the needs of others. Our patriarchs and matriarchs exemplify this quality. It is a necessary foundation - a prerequisite that must be integrated into the Jewish national character before we can appreciate the redemption of the Book of Exodus. It is also a quality that will hasten the coming of Moshiach, so don't give up may He come peacefully in our days.

In a teaching from the Yeshevit Simchat Shlomo it says, "Like the mother who does not wish to enter into her home until all her children are in first, Rachel Imeinu, our mother Rachel remained outside the Land of Israel. She knew prophetically that it would be a long time before all her children would come home, and so she chose to remain outside of Israel and weep bitterly over the exile of her children. She refuses to be comforted:
Yirmiyahu 31:14, "Thus saith the L*RD: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuseth to be comforted for her children, because they are not."
And finally Hashem promises her that her children will come home.
Yirmiyahu 31:15-16, "Thus saith the L*RD: Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears; for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the L*RD; and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. And there is hope for thy future, saith the L*RD; and thy children shall return to their own border."
Hazak, hazak, hazak, Vayitnasek
Gut Shabbos, Elisheva

A fitting good-bye to the book of Genesis

BERESHIT BY MOSHAV BAND
Bereshit bará elohím et hashamayim
Et hashamayim, ve'et haaretz
Bereshit bará elohím et hashamayim
Et hashamayim, ve'et haaretz
Vehaaretz haytá tow vavow
Vechoshech al pne tehóm
Veruach elohím merachefet al pne hamayim
Vayomer elohím yehi yom vayhí yom
Vayár elohím ta'or qui tov
Vayár et haor qui tov
Vayavdel elohím ben haor uvén hachoshech
Vayicra elohím laor yom velachoshech cará layla
Vayavdel elohím ben haor uvén hachoshech
Vayicra elohím laor yom velachoshech cará layla
Vehaaretz hayta tow vavow
Vehosheh al pne tehóm
Veruaj elohím merahefet al pne hamayim
Vayomer elohím yehi yom vayhí yom
Vayár elohím ta'or qui tov
Vayomer elohím yehi yom vayhí yom
Vayár elohím ta'or qui tov
Vayhi erev vayhi boquer yom echad