What Does the Story of Yosef Come to Teach Us?

What is the subject of the story of Yosef and his brothers, and what does it come to teach us? in order to address this question, we examine the schematic structure of this long story, such that we will be able to discern at a glance its major parts and their interrelationship. Through this examination, we learn about the beginning of the exile, and the significance of the Torah's use of the words "these are the generations" in sefer Bereishit. We also notice that the story of Yosef and his brothers is a variation on one of the central themes of the Torah as a whole: sin – punishment – teshuva – redemption. All of these components in this biblical process turn, in our story, on the value of family unity and responsibility for its continued existence.