Joseph & His Brothers Jewish Story

Immerse your students in one of the most powerful and transformative stories in Jewish history!

Joseph and His Brothers is the biblical account of Joseph, one of Jacob’s twelve sons, who was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers but rose to become a powerful leader in Egypt. Though favored by his father, Joseph faced hardship and betrayal when his brothers stripped him of his special coat and threw him into a pit, eventually selling him to passing merchants.

Taken to Egypt, Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams led him to the court of Pharaoh, where he became a trusted advisor and governor, responsible for preparing the nation for a prophesied famine. When Joseph’s brothers later came to Egypt to buy food, he tested them to see if they had changed before revealing his identity and forgiving them.

The story of Joseph and His Brothers is a seminal event in Jewish history recounted in the Hebrew Bible as a testament to faith, forgiveness, and divine providence. Despite humble beginnings and tumultuous trials, Joseph’s life was guided by God’s plan, leading him to a position of power where he could ultimately save his family.

A variety of engaging comprehension activities reinforce key details and higher-order thinking skills in this

2 levels of multiple-choice, SAT-style quizzes (2-page and 3-page versions)
2 levels of story summary cloze passages
2 levels of written response worksheets (a double-sided version with 15 mixed style question types, and a single-sided version with 8 essential written response questions)
2 versions of vocabulary-building crossword puzzles
Answer sheets for all activities
Exploring this pivotal narrative develops cultural literacy about the ancestral origins and formative experiences that shaped Jewish identity, ethics, and traditions. Ideal for grades 5-9 across ELA, social studies, and Jewish studies curricula.