We have come to the end of the Book of Genesis (Bereishit), where the Torah delivers a strong message about the connection between brothers.
We began with Cain and Abel, where we read that “Cain rose against Abel his brother and killed him” (4:8). One man murders his brother.
We continued with Isaac and Ishmael, who part ways and later meet up at the grave of their father Abraham, “and Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him” (25:9) – and then parted ways again.
Esau and Jacob parted in great anger, and later managed to make peace between them: “And Esau ran to greet him and embraced him and fell upon his neck and kissed him, and they wept” (33:4) — but in the end, they part ways once more.
Only Joseph offers a different model. In his story there are tensions, jealousy, and violence, just as in the previous tales. The change takes place in Joseph’s attitude: “And now, do not be pained and do not be incensed with yourselves that you sold me down here, because for sustenance God has sent me before you” (45:5). He knows how to transform the equation from brothers = squabbling to brothers = making peace with someone different from you, to a shared life.
Our reality demands a change. We need to take responsibility for our shared fate and to live among brothers with the differences that exist between us.
