Miketz 5781: Human Effort and Faith in God. A Contradiction in Terms?

Posted by Alex Israel on December 13, 2020
Topics: Pardes from Jerusalem, Bereishit (Genesis), Torah, MiKetz

In a challenging comment at the end of last week’s Torah reading, the Midrash condemns Joseph for putting his faith in human assistance rather than turning directly to God. We pose the question: Does faith entail an abandonment of human initiative? Does belief clash with this-worldly action?

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Sources include Genesis 39, Genesis 40, Genesis 41 and Genesis 45.

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Credits
Rabbi Alex Israel – Faculty and Host for Pardes from Jerusalem
Rabbi Adam Titcher – Lead Consultant and Producer
Arlene Harel – Faculty Coordinator

About Alex Israel

Alex teaches Bible at Pardes and is the Director of the Community Education Program and the Summer Program. Alex was born and raised in London. He holds degrees from London School of Economics, the Institute of Education London and Bar-Ilan University. Alex studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion under Rav Aharon Lichtenstein and Rav Yehudah Amital, and gained Rabbinic ordination from the Israeli Rabbinate. Click here to read more. You can find books written by Alex by clicking here

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