Vayigash: Unshakeable Forgiveness
“Vayigash” – “Then he came forward.” There is a remarkable double “coming forward” in this week’s parsha, resulting in a dramatic teshuvah (repentance) and forgiveness scene between Judah and Joseph. Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks calls this “the first recorded moment in history when one human being forgives another.” This moment in the Torah is usually understood as a two-step dance. First, Judah’s sincere apology and demonstration that he has changed and is willing now to sacrifice himself in place of his brother. Second, Joseph’s tearful, thorough forgiveness of Judah and all the brothers. Rabbi Sacks – and many others – are careful to point out the multi-stage process of Judah’s repentance that “earned” him forgiveness. Indeed, the entire complicated process by which Joseph tests his brothers seems expressly designed to see whether or not they have changed, and therefore whether or not he will forgive them. Except, if you look directly at Joseph’s words of forgiveness, nowhere does Joseph mention that his forgiveness is a result of the brothers’ apology or changed behavior. First in this week’s reading: 4. Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come closer to me," and they drew closer. And he said, "I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5. But now do not be sad, and let it not trouble you that you sold me here, for it was to preserve life that God sent me before you. -
וַּי ֹאמֶר יֹוסֵף אֶל ֶאחָיו ּגְׁשּו נָא ֵאלַי ַוּיִּגָׁשּו וַּי ֹאמֶר.ד ֲאנִי יֹוסֵף ֲאחִיכֶם ֲאׁשֶר ְמכ ְַרּתֶ ם א ֹתִ י ִמצ ְָריְמָה:
ְועַּתָ ה | ַאל ּתֵ ָעצְבּו וְַאל יִחַר ְּבעֵינֵיכֶם ּכִי.ה ׁש ָל ַחנִי אֱֹלהִים ְ ְמכ ְַרּתֶ ם א ֹתִ י ֵהּנָה ּכִי ְל ִמ ְחי ָה ִל ְפנֵיכֶם:
Genesis 45:4-5
1