Date: 8.12.25/18 Kislev 5786

Parsha: Vayeishev: Genesis 37:1-11

What Happens in This Part of the Torah?

This section begins the story of Joseph (Yosef) and his family:

1. Jacob (Yaakov) settles in Canaan – After many adventures, Jacob is now living peacefully in the land of Canaan with his family.
2. Joseph is Jacob’s favorite son – Joseph is 17 years old. Jacob loves him very much and gives him a special gift: a beautiful, colorful coat (called ketonet pasim). This shows everyone that Joseph is special to Jacob.
3. Joseph’s brothers are jealous – His brothers notice that Jacob loves Joseph more than them. This makes them angry and they start to dislike Joseph.
4. Joseph tells his dreams – Joseph has two dreams:
   • In the first dream, he and his brothers are tying bundles of wheat. Joseph’s bundle stands tall, and the brothers’ bundles bow down to his.
   • In the second dream, the sun, moon, and eleven stars bow down to Joseph. When Joseph tells these dreams to his family, his brothers become even more jealous. Even Jacob wonders what the dreams mean.

Key Learning Points

• Favoritism causes problems – Jacob’s special love for Joseph made the brothers feel hurt and angry. This teaches us that showing too much favoritism can lead to arguments and jealousy.
• Dreams can be powerful – Joseph’s dreams were not just ordinary dreams; they were messages about the future. But sharing them without thinking made his brothers upset.
• Words matter – Joseph didn’t mean to hurt his brothers, but speaking without considering others’ feelings can cause trouble.

Takeaway Lessons

1. Treat everyone fairly – Even if you love someone very much, try not to make others feel left out.
2. Think before you speak – Before sharing something exciting, ask yourself: “Will this make someone feel bad?”
3. Jealousy can lead to harm – When we feel jealous, it’s better to talk about our feelings or find a way to be happy for others instead of letting anger grow.

Thought of Rabbi Sacks

🗣️ “Speech Therapy”: Why Talking Matters

• Family rivalries create silence
  Jacob’s favorite son, Joseph, received a special coat. His brothers felt hurt and angry, and “they hated him and could not speak a peaceful word to him” (Genesis 37:4). Rabbi Sacks highlights that this strange Hebrew phrase means they shut down communication—they stopped trying to resolve their feelings. [rabbisacks.org]
• Silence makes problems worse
  Rabbi Sacks reminds us of the Torah’s teaching in Leviticus 19:17: if someone hurts you, you should talk to them instead of boiling silently inside. Because the brothers kept their anger to themselves, it grew until they did something terrible: they sold Joseph as a slave. [rabbisacks.org]
• Words are powerful—like prayer
  Rabbi Sacks quotes the Talmud (Berakhot 26b): “Conversation is a form of prayer.” Talking can heal wounds. By expressing hurt and misunderstanding, we give people a chance to listen, apologize, and fix things. [rabbisacks.org]

🎯 Key Lessons for Kids

• Speak up kindly when you’re upset.
  If someone hurts your feelings, say: “That didn’t feel nice when you did that.” Don’t just ignore it.
• Use words to make peace.
  Trying to explain your feelings might help someone understand and stop doing what hurts you.
• Remember: Being quiet doesn’t solve fights.
  Just like Joseph’s brothers, silence can make problems worse—even bigger than they began.

✅ Takeaways

• It's okay to tell someone when you're sad or angry—but do so respectfully.
• Talking honestly and calmly can stop fights before they get bigger.
• Conversation is a powerful tool—it can help fix things and bring people closer.

These ideas from Rabbi Sacks give us a clear message: communication builds peace, while silence can let bad feelings grow. Encourage children to speak up and mend bonds with words!

Would you like me to turn Rabbi Sacks’ ideas into a short kid-friendly activity or discussion guide?

Around the Shabbat Table

1. Why did Joseph’s brothers dislike him so much?

Answer:
Because Jacob showed favoritism by giving Joseph a special coat and loving him more than the others. This made the brothers jealous and angry.
Discussion Point:
How can we make sure everyone in our family feels loved and included?

2. What do Joseph’s dreams mean, and why did they upset his brothers?

Answer:
The dreams suggested that Joseph would one day be greater than his brothers and that they would bow to him. The brothers thought Joseph was bragging, which made them even more jealous.
Discussion Point:
Is it always a good idea to share everything we dream or think? Why or why not?

3. What lesson can we learn from the brothers’ silence (“they could not speak to him peacefully”)?

Answer:
Instead of talking about their feelings, the brothers stayed angry and silent, which made things worse. Rabbi Sacks teaches that speaking kindly and honestly can prevent big problems.
Discussion Point:
What’s a good way to tell someone they hurt your feelings without starting a fight?

Parsha summary adapted from Chabad.org and Rabbi Sacks Legacy

The weekly mitzvot are adapted from the PAJES Primary Parashat Hashavua Curriculum, and form the basis of the school's PSHE curriculum for all pupils alongside the Torah, Well Being and Me curriculum.