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Kenneth Cohen

Temporary Dwelling

As we end our studies of the Book of Bereishit, there is one final message that is worthy of note. When the brothers of Yosef met with Pharoah, they told him that they planned to stay in Egypt temporarily.

They used the word, לגור, to live, but in a temporary fashion. When the Torah describes the move to Egypt by Yakov’s family, we are told that ויאחזו בה, they took hold of their home in the Land of Goshen, in a more permanent matter.

The tragic story that ended with bitter slavery, was made even more tragic when we learned that eighty per cent of the Jewish people were so entrenched in Egypt, that they did not want to leave. Despite the incredible miracles that were ultimately witnessed, and despite their slavery, they didn’t want to come to Israel.

This eighty per cent were killed, according to the Midrash, during the plague of darkness.

There is even a fascinating comment of the Midrash Tanchuma that said that Yakov Avinu insisted that only his sons were to handle his coffin. He did not want any of his grandsons touching it, because some had already intermarried with the Egyptians.

Sadly, history repeats itself where many Jews do not see themselves as Jews first, before seeing themselves as citizens of their particular country.

In the last fifteen months we have witnessed miracles of biblical proportions. At the same time, we have seen vicious Jew hatred on the rise. The obvious conclusion is to come home to the only place where Jews are completely welcome, and we feel G-d’s protection every single day. We must learn from history and not repeat its mistakes.

About the Author
Rabbi Cohen has been a Torah instructor at Machon Meir, Jerusalem, for over twenty years while also teaching a Talmud class in the Shtieblach of Old Katamon. Before coming to Israel, he was the founding rabbi of Young Israel of Century City, Los Angeles. He recently published a series of Hebrew language-learning apps, which are available at www.cafehebrew.com