וישב

Torah is a book of revelation in which there are no coincidences. In this portion we see the development of the idea of the two types of Messiah, ben Yosef, the suffering servant and ben David, the conquering king. After Joseph is sold by his brothers, there is a pause and it begins with another story about Yehudah (Judah). We need to understand that Torah is the basis for Truth. It speaks openly and bluntly even if we don’t like what it says. Yaakov is decreasing and his sons are taking over and here is speaking mainly of Joseph and Yehudah. We Jews are the inventors of the dysfunctional family. If we get anything accomplished it is only because of G-d. In a family generally speaking the second child has to fight for the attention, the youngest thinks it owns the world and is usually spoiled while the eldest child can be bitter, upset, eats sour grapes and tells the others what to do because they think they are in charge.

Joseph is not the oldest and being almost the youngest of all the brothers. The first born is the one who breaks the womb of the mother and although he is not the first born of all Yaakov’s sons, Joseph is the first born for Yaakov, because of his beloved Rachel. If it had been up to Yaakov, Rachel would have been his only wife but by deceit she had been replaced by her sister, Leah and for that reason, for Yaakov Joseph was his first born coming from his Rachel and holding a special position or role. Parallel to this story we read about Yehudah. It is important to note that the Scriptures are not written in a chronological order; it is not about time but about the picture that G-d is painting for us. There were 22 years between Yehudah and Tamar. This was taking place while Joseph was in Egypt preparing to meet his family there.

The emphasis here is upon two women, Tamar and the wife of Potifar. Since G-d created woman she has been both a blessing and a headache. Throughout Scripture we have seen the women doing the same thing Eve did. Our sages tell us to measure the intentions, not necessarily the actions, which is difficult to do, since only G-d can weigh the hearts of man.  

Tamar was not Jewish; she was a Canaanite, like Yehudah’s wife, Shua. Remember, Torah is G-d’s revelation to man; it speaks without adornment; it is man who dresses it up with cosmetics. The sages argue that they were not Canaanite in their desire to whitewash the Scriptures or defend G-d. Abraham didn’t want Isaac to marry a Canaanite but here his great-grandson is being disobedient. This was not the first nor would it be the last of the disobedient actions of the sons of Israel. Once we admit this and realize that G-d loves us and works with us in spite of who we are and what we do, then we can have a true relationship with G-d without creating a religion to ingratiate ourselves with Him. That is the problem with religion. Our sages try to eliminate or make saints of these women who were in the lineage of Messiah by saying that Tamar became a Jew. This is simply not in Torah.

Our sages say that Potifar’s wife seduced Joseph because she knew who he was and through that act she would have been doubly blessed by having his children, one who would be Mashiach ben Yosef. They also say that Asanat the wife of Joseph was really Dina the daughter of Yaakov once again trying to whitewash the facts. By changing the lineage of the Jew from the father to the mother, they have removed all the mothers of Israel who were not Jews.  If that were true, King David would not be a Jew. The promise of G-d of Messiah would come through the Patri-lineage.

In Christianity, Jesus’ lineage is given through the father as we see in Matthew and through the mother as in Luke. In Luke it was done in this way as a sign taken from Isaiah 7:14,
In Torah, the lineage is determined ONLY through the father. Yeshua’s mother Mary (Miriam) was from the tribe of Levi. Gentile scholars in trying to explain this apparent mishap, say that he was adopted by Joseph who was from the tribe of Judah. If we accept that he was adopted then G-d committed a mistake since G-d promised that from Judah, through King David, through their loins would come the Messiah. Are adopted sons given the same status?  Rabbinical Judaism in trying to help G-d, have changed the directions of the Scriptures by defining a Jew through the mother. Until today none of the children of Yaakov produced Jewish children based on matrilineage. So who is right? Man or G-d? When religion takes over the Word of G-d, both the message and the people for whom the message was intended is destroyed.

Tamar had a difficult time with Judah. He could have released to marry someone else. The twins born through her were in the line of Messiah even though it was prohibited in Torah for a man to sleep with his daughter in law.  This message is such a strong one for us to understand. Messiah is a representative of each and every one of us. G-d used him to cover all humanity.

It looks like all these things that happened where terrible mistakes and yet is that true?  Many of us when we look back at our lives still dwell in the past and can’t let go because of all the mistakes we made and yet didn’t G-d have a hand in our lives before we were born? Instead of regretting the past, let us change our attitudes. It is time to stop blaming our parents and ourselves. It is possible that they, we blew it.  G-d forgives the sins of the fathers up to the 1000th generation for those who love Him and who He loves.  When we are honest and admit that we made mistakes and take it to G-d He does forgive and we can start again.

It is time to stop and realize that through all these mistakes came our Messiah Yeshua. He represents you and me. Our forefathers were Joseph and Judah. Messiah had to come through the lineage of the father, not the mothers. Our unsung heroes though, are the women who played a very important role so that G-d can show us that it is neither our pedigree nor the perfection of man that ingratiates us to Him. G-d does wonderful things with His people because of Him not us. If we were perfect, the world wouldn’t need G-d. Let us we humble ourselves and not perform for anyone, even less G-d, and allow G-d to free us from our pasts.

May G-d add blessings to His Word

Ranebi (Rabbi Netanel ben Yochanan)