Vayeshev 5784: Growth and Responsibility

What can the mitzvah of yibum, Levirate marriage, teach us about making difficult decisions and personal growth? In this week's episode of Pardes from Jerusalem, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Dr. Daniel Reifman unpack the complicated family dynamics of Yehudah, his sons, and his daughter-in-law, Tamar. As the only mitzvah in the Torah that allows one to "opt-out", Levirate marriage provides an opportunity to examine the Torah's perspective on making choices that lead to personal growth. With this in mind, Daniel and Zvi find new perspectives on the story of Yehuda, a character who develops in real-time. Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Dr. Daniel Reifman - Pardes Faculty