Parashat Vayigash 5785

When I was a student at AJR, I was fortunate to take an elective entitled Bibliodrama with Dr. Peter Pitzele. We were told that the class would expand how we would view Torah, by making a parashah come alive by making it into a drama.

Simply put, stated Peter in his book Scripture Windows, “Bibliodrama is a form of role-playing in which the roles played are taken from the Biblical text. As I have developed it, then, Bibliodrama is a form of interpretive play.” (Scripture Windows: Toward a Practice of Bibliodrama, page 11)

This art form, a type of midrashic drama, can easily be staged with this week’s portion, Vayigash. This drama can be arranged through volunteers and/or clergy and should not be limited only to adults. As this parashah develops the roles of the brothers could easily be played by students.

The portion has the drama contained within it, with clearly-established roles. But the key to the success of the bibliodrama is not by sticking to the Torah text, but by improvisation – interpreting the Torah text.

The drama to be staged goes from Joseph revealing himself as the ruler of Egypt (all right, second in command) to the time when the brothers leave to go back home and get Jacob and bring him to Joseph.

There is high drama in the portion. After many conversations with his brothers, Joseph (who is presumably dead after being left behind in a pit) reveals himself as their brother. The mood is intense.

Could individuals playing the parts actually contain themselves until the time of the revelation? Would they have real tears when Joseph makes his announcement or would there be feinting or shouts of joy or something else?

It was too much for Joseph. He told his brothers his real identity.

וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אֶת־ קֹל֖וֹ בִּבְכִ֑י וַיִּשְׁמְע֣וּ מִצְרַ֔יִם וַיִּשְׁמַ֖ע בֵּ֥ית פַּרְעֹֽה׃

His sobs were so loud that the Egyptians could hear, and so the news reached Pharaoh’s palace. (Gen. 45:2)

In the Bibliodrama the emotions of all the brothers must be brought out. We know that Joseph cried incessantly, and that the brothers were “dumbfounded.” What does that mean? What does dumbfounded look like? What expressions did they have on their faces? Certainly, there was much more said, more emotions released.

But we’re far from finished.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יוֹסֵ֧ף אֶל־אֶחָ֛יו גְּשׁוּ־ נָ֥א אֵלַ֖י וַיִּגָּ֑שׁוּ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֲנִי֙ יוֹסֵ֣ף אֲחִיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־ מְכַרְתֶּ֥ם אֹתִ֖י מִצְרָֽיְמָה׃

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come forward to me.” And when they came forward, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, he whom you sold into Egypt. (Gen. 45:4)

Are the brothers still dumbfounded? Or, can they now hear what Joseph is saying to them. Do they truly understand Joseph, or are they still crying and in disbelief? What is their emotional state?

And, are they happy? Remember that Joseph was the one that all the brothers made fun of. They taunted him for his coat of many colors. And, they threw him into the pit, and then sold him to Midianite traders for twenty pieces of silver!

On the other side think of how Joseph has grown from the showoff to the second-in-command in Egypt. How is this portrayed in the drama? It seems that he has grown up in a very short time. Joseph is not a young child; he is in command. His words and gestures must reflect this.

וְעַתָּ֣ה אַל־ תֵּעָ֣צְב֗וּ וְאַל־ יִ֙חַר֙ בְּעֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם כִּֽי ־מְכַרְתֶּ֥ם אֹתִ֖י הֵ֑נָּה כִּ֣י לְמִֽחְיָ֔ה שְׁלָחַ֥נִי אֱלֹהִ֖ים לִפְנֵיכֶֽם׃

Now, do not be distressed or reproach yourselves because you sold me hither; it was to save life that God sent me ahead of you. (Gen. 45:5)

Think what it takes to say this. No, I’m not mad at you for throwing me into the pit, selling me to traders, and then being dumped into prisons in Egypt.

No. I see the big picture, Joseph says. God has brought me here for a reason.

Joseph then talks to his brothers. But, how much can they comprehend? Are they still dazed and dumfounded, just barely understanding all that has happened to them?  That could certainly be the case.

וַיְנַשֵּׁ֥ק לְכׇל־ אֶחָ֖יו וַיֵּ֣בְךְּ עֲלֵהֶ֑ם וְאַ֣חֲרֵי כֵ֔ן דִּבְּר֥וּ אֶחָ֖יו אִתּֽוֹ׃

He kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; only then were his brothers able to talk to him. (Gen. 45:15)

Did this entire sequence appear to the brothers in a dream? The brothers are still dazed during all of Joseph’s talk of famine, and only upon kissing and crying on each other did the dream turn to a semi-reality. How is this expressed by the brothers? What can they comprehend? How much of the story Joseph tells them can be really be understood?

Only upon concluding all the conversations among brothers can we get to the ending: Reuniting Jacob and Joseph. When finally convinced that Joseph was alive and living in Egypt, Jacob could not take being without Joseph any longer.

וַיַּגִּ֨דוּ ל֜וֹ לֵאמֹ֗ר ע֚וֹד יוֹסֵ֣ף חַ֔י וְכִֽי ־ ה֥וּא מֹשֵׁ֖ל בְּכׇל־ אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וַיָּ֣פׇג לִבּ֔וֹ כִּ֥י לֹא־ הֶאֱמִ֖ין לָהֶֽם׃

And they told him, “Joseph is still alive; yes, he is ruler over the whole land of Egypt.” His heart went numb, for he did not believe them. (Gen. 45:26)

Once he saw everything that had been brought for him, Jacob understood his sons were telling the truth. And, yes, he had to be with Joseph, as quickly as possible.

  וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל רַ֛ב עוֹד־ יוֹסֵ֥ף בְּנִ֖י חָ֑י אֵֽלְכָ֥ה וְאֶרְאֶ֖נּוּ בְּטֶ֥רֶם אָמֽוּת׃

“Enough!” said Israel. “My son Joseph is still alive! I must go and see him before I die.” (Gen. 45:28)

And the curtain goes down on our Bibliodrama which explored the hearts and souls of Joseph’s brothers and witnessed the development of Joseph as both a brother and the ruler of Egypt.
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Rabbi Gerry L. Ginsburg (AJR ’19) is associate rabbi of Temple Beth El, Stamford, CT (Conservative). His work there includes pastoral counseling, adult education, synagogue outreach, life cycle events and worship services.