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Gevulot Binyamin: Vayeishev



The 21st of Kislev is the Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Binyamin Rapoport of Berezhany, Galicia, author of Gevulot Binyamin. He died on December 8, 1770.  “They have journeyed on from here, for I heard them saying, ‘Let us go do Dothan.’” (Genesis 37:17) They have gone to Dothan – from the word “Da’at” or law – i.e. they are seeking legal grounds to put you to death.

How could Jacob even consider sending Joseph to his brothers who hated him so much? Did he not realize that he was placing Joseph in danger?

Jacob was following the Talmudic dictum that “Mitzvah messengers are not hurt.” He felt safe sending Joseph to Shechem because the boy would be on a mission of Mitzvah.

However, the brothers knew that Joseph would be safe as long as he followed Jacob’s instructions, which were to visit the brothers in Shechem. They left Shechem specifically to remove Joseph from the Mitzvah track and cause him to forfeit the Divine protection afforded to Mitzvah messengers. (Gevulot Binyamin – Vayeishev)

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