Rabbi Sacks on Forgiveness (Hatred Needs to be Gone)
The late Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks has an essay entitled "Forgiveness" in his book "Covenant and Conversation." We at JewishVaccineStories know nothing of Rabbi Sacks' opinion on vaccination. But based on his comments here, one would think that he would not be in favor of the Sinas Chinum which the disagreement over vaccination engenders. Referencing the passage in which Yosef (Joseph) denies any intent to seek vengeance against his brothers after their father's passing, Rabbi Sacks writes: ... the real significance of this passage goes far beyond the story of Joseph and his brothers. It is the essential prelude to the book of Exodus and the birth of Israel as a nation. The book of Genesis is, among other things, a set of variations on the theme of sibling rivalry: Cain and Abel, Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers. The book begins with fratricide and ends with reconciliation. There is a clear pattern to the final scene of each of th