This Shabbat, we begin to read the Joseph narrative in the Torah selection of Vayeshev. As the beloved son of Jacob-Israel, Joseph is given the gift of the many-colored coat. The other brothers despise Joseph, as he is the favorite of his father. Joseph shares his dreams of superiority with his brothers. He envisions twelve sheaves prostrating to his sheaf. A second dream portrays eleven stars, the moon, and the sun paying homage to Joseph. The resentment against Joseph builds.

Joseph is sent to find his brothers in Shechem. However, a man informs him that his brothers are in Dothan. When the brothers see Joseph approaching, they plot to murder him. However, Reuven intervenes and suggests that Joseph be cast into a pit instead. Reuven hopes to remove his brother from the pit later. Judah suggests that the hated Joseph be sold to Ishmaelites. Then Midianites lift Joseph out of the pit. Biblical critics suggest that the story is a conflation of two traditions. One narrative shares that Judah sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites. The other text teaches that Reuven placed Joseph in the pit to save him, but unfortunately the Midianites took him.

The brothers soak the many-colored coat in blood and present it to Jacob-Israel. The father is overwhelmed with grief. The Midianites, however, sell Joseph to Potiphar in Egypt.

The narrative shifts to tell the story of Judah. The Torah inserts the narrative of Judah to contrast the early behavior of Judah with his mature personality in the story of Joseph. As always, the brilliance of the Torah is the complexity of the heroes. It should be noted that the very name of our people, "Jews" derives from a man who was intimate with his daughter-in-law. The greatness of the Torah lies in its realism.

Judah has three children with Shua, Er, Onan, and Shelah. Er marries Tamar. G-d kills Er and Onan must fill the levirate duty. Onan must bear an heir with his widowed sister-in-law. However, instead Onan interrupts his sexual activity with Tamar. The term "onanism" derives from Onan. However, his sin lies in his abandonment of his obligation. Judah informs Tamar that she must wait until the third brother, Shelah, grows up.

Time passes, yet Shelah never fulfills the levirate obligation with Tamar. Meanwhile, Judah's own wife dies. Judah meets Tamar, but her face is hidden. Judah assumes she is a prostitute and is intimate with her. However, Tamar asks for Judah's identifying property. Three months later, Judah discovers that the "prostitute" was actually his daughter-in-law Tamar. Judah is furious, but Tamar responds nobly. Judah realizes he failed to fulfill the levirate obligation. Tamar bears twins from her relationship with Judah, Perez and Zerach. Of course, David is a descendant of the line of Judah. Ironically, the two stories of origin of King David are problematic. Here, in Genesis, the house of Judah is traced to the relationship of Judah and Tamar. In The Book of Ruth, David's lineage is traced to the relationship of Boaz and Ruth the Moabite. Ironically, Israel was not allowed to marry with the Moabites because their origin was incestuous. The complexity of the Torah is its genius!!!

The narrative returns to Joseph in Egypt. Joseph becomes the head servant of Potiphar's home. However, the wife of Potiphar is attracted to the handsome Joseph and attempts to seduce him. Joseph refuses to succumb to her. Potiphar's wife claims, ironically, that Joseph attempted to seduce her! Potiphar punishes Joseph and incarcerates him.

In the prison, Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker. The cupbearer shares his dream of three branches of the vine. The cupbearer presses the grapes of the branches ito Pharaoh's cup. Jacob interprets the dream as that the cupbearer will be restored to his position in the court within three days. The baker shares his dream of three baskets of baked goods. Birds devour the food in the uppermost basket. Joseph analyzes the dream, as that Pharaoh will hang the baker in three days. Joseph's understanding is correct. The cupbearer is restored to his position. The baker is killed.