Chaburat Taryag: Parshas Vayigash

Hello, dear children! It's Saba Kadisha. Oy, oy, oy! Last week, the cup was found in Binyamin's sack, and Yehudah stepped forward. What will happen now? But first, we learn! Sunday after school, the four friends came like every week to Saba Kadisha's room. This week we read Parshas Vayigash, and it has three things every kid needs to know. Three? Star-counter ready. A star for each one. Easy! Number one: Yehudah approached Yosef and spoke to him from the heart: Please, my master. I promised my father to look after the boy. If Binyamin doesn't come back, our father Yaakov will be very sad. So take me as a servant instead of Binyamin, and let the boy go home with his brothers. Yehudah took responsibility. He was ready to give himself for his brother. And when Yosef saw how much the brothers love Binyamin and protect him, he couldn't hold back anymore. He sent all the Egyptians out, so the brothers wouldn't be embarrassed, and crying with joy, he said: I am Yosef! Is my father still alive? That means: when a brother needs help, we take responsibility. One star! Number two: the brothers were very frightened and couldn't answer. But Yosef said: Come close to me. It wasn't you who sent me here. Hashem sent me ahead of you, to save everyone from the hunger. And Yosef hugged Binyamin and cried, and kissed all the brothers with great love. And Yosef sent wagons and gifts to bring Abba Yaakov, and told the brothers: Don't quarrel on the way. That means: don't fight, and don't blame each other. Children, Yosef didn't get angry and didn't blame. He forgave with all his heart, because he knew everything is from Hashem. And whoever forgives has a happy heart. So I'll forgive my little brother too, when he takes my game! Two stars! Number three: the brothers came back and told Yaakov: Yosef is still alive! At first Yaakov didn't believe it, but when he saw the wagons, Yaakov's spirit came alive. Yaakov set out with the whole family. And at night, Hashem said to him: Don't be afraid to go down to Mitzrayim, because I will make you a great nation there. I will go down with you. And Yaakov sent Yehudah ahead of him to Goshen. What for? To set up a yeshiva there, a place to learn Torah, even before everyone arrives. And when Yaakov arrived, Yosef ran to meet him, fell on his neck, and cried a lot. And Yaakov said Krias Shema. And the whole family lived in the land of Goshen and learned Torah there. So before everything, we make sure there's a place to learn Torah. Three stars! The counter is full! And just then, Yisrael came in, and with him Dubi, his little brother. Dubi kicked a ball in the yard, and the ball broke the neighbor's window. Dubi was very scared. So here's this week's mission: take responsibility, like Yehudah, forgive and not blame, like Yosef, and put the Torah first. Easy! My gadget says a new window costs 20 shekels. Dubi, don't be afraid. I'm responsible for you. I'll go with you. And we'll help! Everyone will give a little of his money. Yisrael and Dubi brought the neighbor a new window. Yisrael said: Sorry, it's my responsibility. And the neighbor smiled and said: What a good brother you have! Just like Yehudah! He didn't run away. He said: I'm responsible. My gadget says: being responsible is worth gold! And the friends understood: whoever takes responsibility is a real hero. And the first star lit up. The next day, on the way home, Yisrael accidentally spilled the water from his bottle on the drawing Tanchum made for Saba. Oy, the drawing got wet! Tanchum, are you angry? I didn't mean to. And Tanchum smiled and said: I'm not angry. It's OK. I'll draw a new picture. Like Yosef, who forgave his brothers. And the second star lit up. On Thursday, the friends wanted to play soccer in the yard. But then they saw Dubi and more little kids waiting with Chumashim in their hands. Friends, Torah first! Let's learn with the little ones, and then we'll play. They set up a small learning corner in the yard, and each one learned a pasuk from the Chumash with a little kid, just like Yaakov, who sent Yehudah to prepare a yeshiva. And the third star lit up. My gadget says: first Torah, and then soccer! And then everyone played soccer together, and little Dubi scored a goal! Friends, this week we did just like in the parsha: we took responsibility, we forgave with all our hearts, and we put the Torah first. Three stars! The mission is complete! On Shabbos night, at the table, the friends told the whole family about Yehudah and about Yosef. And Abba said: Fortunate are you! Dear children, this week you took responsibility, like Yehudah, you forgave, like Yosef, and you put the Torah first. And that's a very big message. And now, thank you for watching with us, and Shabbat shalom! And next week, in Parshas Vayechi, Yaakov Avinu calls all his sons and gives them special brachos. Which bracha will each one get? We'll find out next week!