Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Vayigash 5772: The Eyes Of Benjamin

In Genesis 45:12, Joseph says something odd. He says, "And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaks to you." Why does the Torah mention the eyes of the brothers and the eyes of Benjamin, given that Benjamin is one of the brothers. It would have been simpler for the Torah to say "your eyes" and leave out the explicit mention of Benjamin.

We find the answer to this question In the Talmud (B. Megillah 16b), where Rabbi Elazar says, "Just as I am not angry at Benjamin who was not even present when I was sold into slavery, I am, likewise, not angry at you."

Here, Joseph shows a preternatural ability to forgive a crime that would be practically unpardonable in the eyes of most people. Jewish forgiveness does not demand that we forget the wrongs committed against us. It does, however, tell us to grant forgiveness completely and not to dole it out in bits like popcorn thrown at pigeons.

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