Kabbaklah for Beginners Only (4) -- God Has Given You Treasure

Out of envy, Yosuf was strippd of his coat of many colors and sold into slavery by ten of his brothers, all but Rubin and Binyamin (Benjamin) who weren't present. He was carried down to Egypt, but over the next 17 years he rose up to become the Prime Minister, second only to Pharoah. During a long famine his father Jacob sends his brothers to Egypt for grain. They come to Yosuf, but don't recognize him and he imprisons one of them, Shimon, and sends them home loaded with grain, but won't see them again, he says, until they bring Binyamin, the favorite after Yosuf disappeared. Yakov is hesitant but he is the sheik of an extended family community whose children are facing starvation. Reluctantly Yakov sends Binyamin along on the second trip to Egypt, praying that no tragedy will befall them.

With the gifts and double money in our hands -- and Binyamin
We rise up and go down to Egypt (into the straits)

We stand before Yosuf (the governor of Egypt, the magician)
Who sees Binyamin (his brother) and says,
Prepare the meal. They’ll dine with me at noon

Fearful, we are brought into Yosuf’s house. To the steward
We say: We found our money in the mouth of our sacks
We’ve brought it back and other money also -- to buy food

He says: Peace be to you. Fear nothing.
The God of your fathers and mothers -- and your God
Has given you treasure in your sacks

Surely this is a beautiful Torah mantra we can affirm and repeat
“Be peaceful. Fear nothing. God has given me treasure in my sack”

He brings Shimon (to us) and gives us water for bathing
We wash our feet and food is given to our animals
Shimon looks good. Shimon is quiet and peaceful, and glad to see us

When Yosuf arrives we present our gifts and bow flat out
(Through an interpreter) He asks, Is your father well? We say

Yes, he’s still alive. Yosuf says, is this your youngest brother
God be gracious to you, he says to Binyamin, and hurries away
To weep for his heart so yearns for his brother. Then he returns

Now set on bread (the meal), he commands
He is served at his table and we at ours, for the Egyptians
Do not dine with the Hebrews

Hebrews, descendents of Eber, a patriarch-sage appearing
In the ten generation geneology from Noah to Abraham

We marvel to see that our places have been set in an order
From the first-born unto the youngest

Portions from before the Prime Minister are taken to us each
Binyamin’s portion is five times so much as any of ours
We drink with (the governor of the land) and are happy

Note that the brothers are not envious of Binyamin
Who appears to be the Prime Minister’s favorite
Yosuf was given a coat of many colors
Binyamin gets five times as much as the others Gen 43.34


Stealing Silver, Stealing Gold

Yosuf commands that our sacks be filled with food
And he puts every person’s money in the mouth of his sack

He says to also put his own silver goblet in Binyamin’s sack
At morning light we are sent away with our donkeys

When we have gone not far from the city, he tells his steward
Follow, overtake them and say: Why reward evil for good
Is not this in which my lord drinks and divines

We are overtaken and reply: Far be it from us to do such a thing
How could we ever steal silver or gold from the lord’s house
If you find it here, that person shall die and we’ll be your slaves

Silver and gold are literal examples of wealth, and also symbols
Silver and gold are the infinite depths of courage and compassion
They must be earned. They can never be stolen

Just as you say: In whose possession (the goblet) is found
Will be my bondsman (slave) and the rest of you will be blameless

Hurriedly we take down our sacks and open them
He searches beginning at the eldest to the youngest
In Binyamin’s sack the goblet is found

We tear our clothes (in grief), reload our animals and return to the city
We fall on the ground before Yosuf, who demands
What have you done? Don’t you know that I see the future

God has found out our iniquity, says Yahudah. What can we say
How do we clear ourselves? We are your bondsmen

Far be it from me to do so, replies Yosuf. Just the man
In whose hand the goblet has been found. He’ll be my slave
But the rest of you -- go in peace unto your father Gen.44.17

The test is before us every moment
Give up your cleverness

More to come. See: Kabbalah for Beginners, Parts 1-3 posted earlier

Give the Best You Have

Selections from Devarim/Words in Shoftim Deut. 16.18-21.9

Give the best you have to God
This is an offering without blemish

Who chooses God is chosen by God

Let Yah, God, (Yud-Heh-Vahv-Heh) put thoughts in our minds
Words in our mouths and actions in our hands

Enter the land God is giving you; occupy and settle it

Pursue justice and righteousness and in this way
Thrive and occupy the land of your holy inheritance

If something is baffling to you, go to a sacred place
Present your bafflement as an offering
Listen for wise guidance

What you hear from your intuition and conscience
Do it right away

Respect others’ boundaries

Don’t take bribes or gifts that blind you from wisdom
And pervert your words from speaking the way

Put judges and officers at all your gates
Watching what’s coming in your ears, eyes, nostrils, mouth
And what’s going out

Be fearless in battle even against overwhelming odds
God is with you

Never set yourself above anyone
Walk the middle path
Reign in enlightenment

Be wholehearted with God. With your life
Write your own Torah
Live that your life may become scripture

By keeping these letters near and looking daily into these teachings,
All through your life you will be enthroned