VaYeshev Excerpts

וישב

Shabbat Shalom

Yehuda's oldest children die, because they were 'bad in the eyes of H.'' We do not see this nowadays. Would the Gottisberg's child be around?...Why do we not have these kinds of deaths anymore?

Somebody is bad in the of H,' they die...This way we know.
What have people in this congregation done that is bad in H's eyes?...talking during sermons...Lying about finances to not pay dues...Repeating jokes too much, Bernie...Trust issues...

Dina takes Yehuda's signet and staff and is then not found when he comes with goods (38:13-18).  (38:15) Yehuda thought she was a harlot, because she covered her face. Back in the day, you couldn't see the prostitutes. They covered up, as it was not tzanuah (modest) to show too much...

Yehuda thought he was scot-free. He thought all was going to be smooth. Kind of like Mr. Goldsmith, when he went to Vegas...Sometimes family gets hold of the credit card...Bad in the eyes of H?'

But he ends up not having money, he leaves her is signet and staff. 

(38:24-26) It comes back to bite him, after he hears Tamar is pregnant and he thinks it is because of another man. It turns out Yehuda himself was the one...She has the signs. At which point, it comes to light that he should have given her his last son. The only one that hadn't died yet...You cannot trust women. You think Dina is all trustworthy, but you don't see her. You got caught...

Lesson. Always carry cash Mr. Goldsmith...Sometimes death is better than dealing with the punishment of a woman...Think about what gifts you are giving this year for Chanukah. There are repercussions. 

***These are excerpts from the sermon. For the sermon in its entirety, come see David Kilimnick perform at the Off The Wall Comedy Basement, in downtown Jerusalem.
David also tours as a Maggid around the world, with very few stories.

Shabbat Shalom