Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family, 

In Parshat Vayehi, the brothers fear that Joseph might exact retribution on them after the passing of Jacob. The brothers say to Joseph:

"Before his death, your father left this instruction: So shall you say to Joseph, 'forgive, I urge you, the offense and guilt of your brothers who treated you so harshly. Therefore, please forgive the offense of the servants of the God of your father.' "

The challenge raised by this text is that Jacob never said such a thing to the brothers of Joseph. Based on Rabbinic sources, Rashi comments: "Shinu Ba'Davar Mipnei Ha'Shalom - They changed the truth for the sake of peace." The Talmud (Tractate Yevamot) supplies the basis for what the brothers did in saying, "It is permissible to change (ie. the facts of the truth) for the sake of peace."

Some other classical commentators attempt to justify that while Jacob never said the afore-mentioned words, he would have endorsed the brothers' words if he had felt them necessary to unite Joseph and the family. 

Other instances in the Torah also permit deviations of the truth solely for the sake of establishing family peace. One particular example appears earlier in the Abraham - Sarah narratives.  Nevertheless, every previous story in Genesis concludes with a family in conflict and turmoil. However, the Book of Genesis, with its little white lie for the sake of Shalom Bayit - family peace, will enable the largest Biblical family of seventy people to unite as one. As a result, this family will grow into the nation of Israel when we begin to read from the second book of the Torah, Shmot-Exodus.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Howard Morrison