Vayeishev

 בס״ד

Vayeishev

What were the brothers doing in Sh’chem?

Why would Yaakov still have flocks up there?

Why was Yosef sent to check up on them?

What mission did the youngster bear?

Were they there to pasture their father’s flocks?

Not according to Rashi’s reasoning,

Above the word “את” he notes two dots,

Which changes the pasuk’s meaning.

They went, Rashi says, to indulge and carouse,

To “pasture” themselves, so to speak,

Far away from their father’s house,

(And perhaps, too, from Yosef, that geek).

Did Yaakov suspect they were up to no good?

Did he send Yosef there as a spy?

Or did he think, if he hung with his bros,

He’d be seen as a regular guy?

In any case, Yaakov rues his choice,

Considering what then transpires,

Like Esav, he’ll cry with a trembling voice,

When he’s shown Yosef’s bloodied attire.