In a Torah scroll, the word for "and they wept" is written with several unusual dots over it. These dots are neither vowels nor trope marks, which aren't written in a Torah scroll. These mysterious dots inspired the creation of rabbinic midrash to explain their presence and significance in the verse.
Here are the relevant verses from the story of Joseph's reunion with his brothers in Genesis 45
Abraham ben Meir Ibn Ezra (1089–c.1167) Spain, was one of the most distinguished Jewish Biblical commentators and philosophers of the Middle Ages.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_ibn_Ezra
Shlomo Yitzchaki (Hebrew: רבי שלמה יצחקי) 22 February 1040 – 13 July 1105, today generally known by the acronym Rashi (Hebrew: רש"י, RAbbi SHlomo Itzhaki), was a medieval French rabbi and author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud and commentary on the Tanakh. Acclaimed for his ability to present the basic meaning of the text in a concise and lucid fashion, Rashi appeals to both learned scholars and beginner students, and his works remain a centerpiece of contemporary Jewish study.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashi
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
What does the Torah text tell us about Esau and his feelings/intentions? Rashi's midrashic text and comment? Ibn Ezra's reading though the lense of Hebrew words/grammar?
Which approach do you prefer? Why? Are you uncomfortable with either approach? Why?
Read the verses from Genesis 45 closely. How do they fit our verse about Jacob and Esau? How do they differ? Do you feel they prove Ibn Ezra's point? (Why/Why not?)
The Torah, Rashi and Ibn Ezra all see Esau differently. Have you ever been in a situation where you were presented with different views of a person? What challenges did it create? Have you ever been perceived in different ways by various people in the same group? How did this affect you?
What do these texts teach us about learning Torah?
What can we learn about our perceptions of others?