[Jewish] This week's d'var torah (commentary) from Steven Nathan

[Rabbi Steven Nathan]

In this week’s parashah/portion, Miketz (Genesis/Bereshit 41:1-44:17), the saga
of Joseph and his brothers continues.  We read in the narrative of Joseph
interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams, being made vizier of Egypt and then of his
brothers coming to seek food during the famine.  We also read of Joseph hiding
his true identity from his brothers and “torturing” them – and indirectly his
father Jacob – by sending them back to Canaan to bring back his youngest
brother Benjamin while keeping Simeon captive.  Then, when the brothers return
with Benjamin, much against Jacob’s wishes, Joseph has his silver goblet hidden
in Benjamin’s sack and accuses him of stealing, sentencing him to remain as
Joseph’s slave.

In last week’s d’var torah I began to interpret the journey of Joseph as an
allegory of the journey of the ego.  When Joseph is filled with pride and
hubris, he is the personification of the ego.  It is the job of the ego to
obfuscate one’s view of reality and replace the sense of union with the One of
the Universe with the sense that the individual is the only ONE that matters. 
Joseph’s time spent in the pit and in jail represents the repression or
negation of the ego.  It is in these places of lowliness that Joseph sees his
connection to others and the universe.  The is the disappearance of the ego and
the emergence of the true inner-self, the soul, which is not really a ‘self’ at
all, but a recognition of the Godliness that is within all of us.

Once Joseph is released from the jail and interprets Pharaoh’s dreams he is
again elevated.  This reminds each of us that even when the ego seems to have
been obliterated, it is still there waiting in the wings to take center stage. 
Yes, in his position as vizier Joseph helps the land of Egypt and is seen part
of God’s plan, but in this allegory this stage represents the reemergence of
the ego.

His brothers, the forces within and around that challenge us on each step on our
journey, bring about Joseph’s sense of superiority, as well as hatred and
revenge, which are all rooted firmly in the ego.  The virtues compassion, mercy
and love, rooted in the soul, are nowhere to be found.  Joseph, the ego, plays
games with the world and the people around him, seeking to find satisfaction in
revenge and in retaining the place of prominence.

The other forces working within and upon him, his brother, seek compassion and
reunion with the source.  But, though at first he does provide for their
physical sustenance through food, no spiritual sustenance is to be found.  For
the ego cannot sustain anything but itself.  It needs to use all of its energy
to keep the façade in tact and to protect it from the soul which is always
there awaiting the opportunity to emerge in all its glory.

As we end this week’s parashah, the ego is in control and subjugating all the
forces around it.  There is no chance of a reunion of the soul with its source,
for the ego has separated all the parts from the whole and sent Benjamin, the
youngest, representing innocence and joy, into exile.  Benjamin, Joseph’s one
full brother, who is the conduit by which the soul can find reunion with the
source is sent to jail.  He is cast into the pit.

If our story were to end here, the allegory would certainly not leave one
feeling very optimistic.  However, we know that the story does not end here. 
But, for now, we are where we are. Such is the way of life; in any moment we
know that the ego or the soul can be the dominant force in our lives.  However,
no situation is ever permanent.  And so we must wait and see what the next step
of the journey holds in store for us.

As we begin Shabbat with the light of four Hanukkah candles, let us remember
that there are four more that remain.  Each night when we light the candles let
us look at where our balance of ego and soul is. Let us acknowledge the reality
of where it is ...where we are ... and continue on our journey towards making
the soul and not the ego the center of our lives.

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Hanukkah.




SPN

Rabbi Steven P. Nathan
Campus Rabbi
Office of Spiritual Life - SA
Hampshire College
Amherst, MA 01002

(413) 559-5282
snathan at hampshire.edu


"The more deeply immersed I became in the thinking of the prophets, the more
powerfully it became clear to me what the lives of the prophets sought to
convey: that morally speaking there is no limit to the concern one must feel for
the suffering of human beings. It also became clear to me that in regard to
cruelties committed in the name of a free society, some are guilty, all are
responsible."
-Abraham Joshua Heschel