Los Angeles · USA
Pico Bais Medrash
After being taken out of jail to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams, Yosef is elected as viceroy for the land of Egypt. Yosef is in charge of collecting food during the years of abundance and storing it for the years of famine. When the famine hits the region, Yaakov, who was living in Eretz Canaan, sends his sons down to Egypt to purchase food. Yaakov does not send Binyomin out of fear of losing another son. The brothers are brought to Yosef, who immediately recognizes them and accuses them of being spies. Yosef tells them that the only way they will be exonerated is if they bring down Binyomin with them. Shimon gets locked up in prison as “collateral,” and the other brothers are sent home.
When the brothers relay to Yaakov what happened, he responds that under no circumstances will he send Binyomin down. Yehuda, the leader of the brothers, finds himself in a bind. He feels responsible to go down and free Shimon from jail, yet his father refuses to send Binyomin. Yehuda bides his time, hoping for a change in the circumstances.
The hunger in Eretz Canaan intensifies, and Yaakov’s household begins to run out of food. Yaakov summons his sons, and the following exchange takes place: And it came to pass, when they finished eating the grain that they had brought from Egypt that their father said to them, “Go back [and] buy us a little food.” But Yehuda spoke to him, saying, “The man warned us repeatedly, saying, ‘You shall not see my face if your brother is not with you.’ (Miketz 43: 2-3)
I have questioned the simple meaning of these pesukim for many years and have not received a satisfying answer . Yaakov was well aware that his sons could not return to Egypt without Binyomin. Why, then, would he ask them to go there without addressing the issue of Binyomin?
If you have an answer to this question, please email me at ayhirschman7@gmail.com . I hope to hear from you and become enlightened with the proper understanding of these pesukim !!
Join us for a Women’s Melava Malka & Game Night this Motzei Shabbos on December 17th. See details in the flyer below.
picobaismidrash.wordpress.com
What they run
Pico Bais Medrash, under the leadership of Rabbi Avraham Yechiel Hirschman, opened its doors in 2011. Since then, PBM has grown to occupy a special space in the LA Jewish community as a beloved hybrid of a shul, bais medrash, and kiruv center which offers full Shabbos and Yom Tov minyanim with after-davening chavrusah learning, multiple shiurim for ladies and men, and a weekly night kollel for men. PBM is dedicated to each of its individual members and to making a contribution to the greater Los Angeles community as a whole
picobaismidrash.wordpress.com/2016/12/10/womens-melava-malka/
Who is here
Los Angeles, CA, USA
All places