The Portion of Vayehi and Boaz Albert
Mark your calendars: Wednesday, December 25 – a solidarity visit to the Albert family

In this week’s Parasha we read : “His sons carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah” (Genesis 50:13). The Rabbis expounded:

When they came to the Cave of Machpelah, Esau came and began to delay the burial.
He [Esau] said to them: “This part of the Cave is mine.”
They [the brothers] said to him: “But you sold your part.”
He said to them: “I sold the birthright, but not my tomb in the Cave.”
They said to him: “But it is written in a letter, ‘In my tomb that I dug for me,’ that is, you sold the tomb, as well.”
He said to them: “Where is the letter?”
They said to him: “In Egypt.”
Naphtali, who was fleet of foot, was chosen to run to Egypt to bring the letter.
In the meantime, Hushim son of Dan stepped in and asked: “What is going on here?”
They related all that had happened.
“And what about the honor of my father’s father? Shall he be disgraced?”
He heard this and killed Esau.

How is it possible that only Hushim son of Dan was concerned about his grandfather’s honor? Were the rest of the children indifferent to the obligation to bury the dead?
(Hushim did not hear this exchange very well, since he was hard of hearing.)
The feelings of the brothers, during their argument with Esau, had become dulled. They thought that any moment Esau would accept their arguments, but that did not happen … the longer the argument with Esau extended, the less sensitive they became, they adapted to the situation, and only Hushim – who was deaf – remained sensitive (as taught by Rabbi Hayyim Shmuelevitz, head of the Mir Yeshivah).

We learn from this that sensitivity can be quickly eroded. We become used to any situation. This story comes to teach us that we must not accept any harsh reality, not even for a moment.
Every terror attack must shock us, beginning with a stone, and a firebomb. Nor can we remain indifferent to diplomatic talks or any act of administrative detention.

Boaz Albert has been in detention from Sukkot. This month, Tevet, three of his six children have birthdays.
On Wednesday, in two weeks, on 22 Tevet, December 25, we will go to Yitzhar to visit Boaz Albert’s wife and children, and we will give presents to the children. For those interested in joining, at a cost of NIS 25, please register with Renee Margolis – 052-3294194, or Rivka Ryback – 054-8034853.
We will leave the Inbal Hotel in Jerusalem at 2:30 p.m., in order to arrive in Yitzhar at 4:00 p.m.

For details:
Yehudit Katsover – 050-7161818, Nadia Matar – 050-5500834
www.womeningreen.org