In this edition of  the Weekend Torah Teaching, Dennis delves into the complexities of human nature, morality, and the Jewish tradition. He explores the idea that our growth as individuals is tied to our ability to see others as real, and that empathy is essential for living a moral life. Dennis draws on the story of Jacob’s journey to Egypt, where he and his family are welcomed as strangers, and the importance of loving the stranger is emphasized.

Dennis also examines the story of Joseph in Egypt, where he is tasked with managing the famine and collecting taxes from the Egyptian people. He notes that the Torah is trying to explain how the phenomenon of an entire nation being enslaved by one man came about, and how this idea is repugnant to the Jewish tradition. The episode raises important questions about the nature of power, morality, and the human condition.

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