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And they took him and cast him into a pit-and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. Genesis 37:24
Sent by his father to deliver a message to his brothers, Joseph went to Shechem, but when he got there, a man told him that they were at Dothan. Obediently, he changes direction to complete his obligation to his father. Seeing him afar off, they begin scheming how to get rid of him. They devise their alibis and make up a story about a wild beast attacking him, without giving much thought about who the wild beast is. He arrives, they attack, stripping him of his clothes and toss him into the pit. Imagine his surprise, his protests. What did he do? Did he do anything to offend them? The text only gives slight hints of the jealousy and rivalry wihtin the family. There is no real reason given, because the actions are reprehensible. He was beloved of Jacob, born in his late age. He has a special multi-colored coat. Are these reasons for premeditated murder? Is baseless hatred justifiable even between half-brothers? Although, Leah was the first wife of Jacob, she was not his first choice, but she bore him six sons before Rachel bore Joseph. And Rachel, the beloved of Jacob, became his wife only after years and years of waiting. Married late, he r chances for children were far reduced. If she had no son, who would take care of her after Jacob died? She'd be left to the mercy of her elder sister and her sons. Not exactly the ideal situation. Beneath the surface, the rivalry seethed, furthered by jeers and taunts of the elder half-brothers at the youngest son, a fanciful dreamer. How bitter can the relationships between half-siblings be? The world was just recovering from the Great War when a rabble-rouser, Adolf Hitler, started gaining mob power. History can blame what happened thereafter on the Nazi State, but strip the facade to find the baseless hatred of jealous people underneath. Unfortunately, jealousy and greed are two passions that are easily aroused. In a time of hardship, the easiest way to find a solution is to blame someone else. With a bit of pseudo-scientific propaganda mixed with a great deal of religious bigotry, the Nazi movement flourished , vaunting the Aryan supremacy theory and decrying Semitic inferiority. Aren't Christians the half-brothers of Judaism? Yet, from many pulpits, anti-semitic sermons promoted the Nazi cause, using theology as proof for justification of violence and discrimination, inherited from centuries of persecution and inquisitions. Rounded up, restricted by laws and stripped of citenzry, Jews were dumped into pits where they were sold into slavery for work camps on their way to Auschwitz, Birkenau, Dachau and Bergen-Belsen. Laws were changed to deprived rightful owners and "nationalize" company holidings, neighbors stood by, awaiting the day when they could vandalize flats and loot what they could. A painting, shoes, a pet dog or earrings-do these justify the premeditated enslavement of so many people and the deaths of millions of innocent people? Go To Page: 1 2
The copyright of the article 6 Hanukah Vayeishev A Light in the Pit in Fairytales is owned by Mary C. Legg. Permission to republish 6 Hanukah Vayeishev A Light in the Pit in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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