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Dear Hampshire friends,<br>
<br>
I write a weekly d'var Torah (or at least I try) that I send to an
online Yahoo group. I decided that I'd send it out to the Hampshire
Jewish list as well, if you'd like to study a little Torah each
Shabbat. I hope you find it meaningful. I also welcome, questions,
comments and constructive criticism at any time. If you are interested
in seeing any archived commentaries (including original poetry and
midrash/stories) just go to <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/mindfultorah">www.groups.yahoo.com/group/mindfultorah</a>. <br>
<br>
Shabbat Shalom!<br>
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<div class="Section1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Mistral;">Steve
Nathan<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal">This week's parashah/portion is Vayeishev
(Genesis/Bershit 37:1-40:23). It tells the story of Joseph's growth
from adolescence to adulthood. At the beginning of Vayeishev, Jacob is
living in Canaan with his twelve sons and one daughter. Born when Jacob
is elderly, Joseph is a favored child. Jacob demonstrates his
preference by making Joseph a beautiful coat of many colors. The other
brothers are jealous of Joseph and what his new coat seems to represent.<br>
<br>
The Torah tells us that Joseph's brothers hated him so that they could
not speak a friendly word to him. (Genesis 37:4). In addition to his
coat, Joseph possesses a great ego. He reports to his father whenever
his brothers misbehave. He tells his family about his dreams which seem
to suggest that the members of his family will one day bow down to him.
Between how he acts and what he shares, Joseph intensifies his
brothers' feelings toward him.<br>
<br>
One day, Joseph is sent by his father to check on his brothers as they
tend the flocks in the field. On his way to find them he encounters a
stranger who asks him "what do you want?" He tells him that he seeking
his brothers and the stranger tells him where they might be. As they
see Joseph approach, the brothers decide to kill him. Reuben the
oldest, asks the others not to kill him but, instead, to throw Joseph
in a pit in the wilderness. The brothers strip Joseph of his colored
coat, throw him in the pit, and dip the coat in blood to present to
their father. Jacob assumes that a wild beast has eaten Joseph. He is
inconsolable. Reuben later returns to the pit to rescue his younger
brother only to find that Joseph has been taken away and sold to
traveling merchants.<br>
<br>
Joseph is taken to Egypt and bought by Potiphar, the highest ranking of
Pharaoh's officers. Potiphar puts a Joseph in charge of his household,
who, with God's help, manages it excellently. Potiphar's wife tries to
seduce Joseph but he refuses to become involved with her. She becomes
angry and lies to her husband saying that Joseph tried to force himself
on her. Potiphar has Joseph thrown in prison.<br>
<br>
Even in jail, Joseph is blessed. Joseph is put in charge of the other
prisoners, including two of Pharaoh's former servants. One night both
of these men have dreams which, with God's help, Joseph interprets.
Joseph's predictions, which are based on these dreams, come true.
Pharaoh's former baker is put to death and the cupbearer is returned to
his old job. Joseph asks the cupbearer to remember him so that he too
can be freed from jail. The cupbearer quickly forgets Joseph.<br>
<br>
There is much upon which I could comment in this parashah, as it is the
lengthy Joseph narrative that begins the transition from the days of
the patriarchs and matriarchs to the time of slavery and redemption in
Egypt that we find in the book of Shemot/Exodus.<br>
<br>
In reading this narrative I am drawn to the idea that each character in
the story represents an aspect of each of us as individuals; that the
story of Joseph is our story not only as a community, but as
individuals as well.<br>
<br>
If this is true, then for me the figure of Joseph clearly represents
the ego in all of its self-centered glory. Joseph sees himself as the
center of the universe, just as the ego within each of us seeks to
convince us that we are indeed the center of the world. And how we are
drawn to believing the ego's message! How often are we tempted to
clothe ourselves/our egos in a cloak of many colors, reminding us of
our individual glory and status! How often are we tempted to show
others how much better we are, just as Joseph does through the
recounting of his dreams to father and brothers.<br>
<br>
Our ego has taught us how to protect it throughout the years, for it
knows that it's existence is dependent on our belief that it is real.
As Jacob protects and adorns Joseph, so do we shield and polish our
egos. As Joseph and Jacob dwell in the protected valley of Hebron
while the brothers are out working in the open fields of Shekhem, so do
we keep our ego hidden and protected within us so as not to be subject
to attack from the forces that seek its ultimate destruction.<br>
<br>
When Jacob finally sends Joseph to seek out his brothers it is a signal
that the status quo is about to shift. Yet, he does this subtly,
simply asking Joseph to seek out the "shalom" of his brothers. A
strange request, considering the fact that his brothers have known
little shalom/peace – especially when it comes to their relationship
with Joseph. However, the journey upon which Joseph is sent is the
journey of discovering that peace … which is Jacob's peace … our
peace. Little does he know that ultimately the piece can only be
achieved by him being cast into the depths of the pit of suffering.<br>
And so Joseph leaves the protection of his father and enters the
emptiness of the wilderness. There he encounters a stranger (always
viewed by the classic commentators as an angel/messenger of God) who
asks not "Where are you going?" but "What do you want?" Joseph
responds that he seeks his brothers and asks where they might be
tending their flocks. The stranger tells him that they have left and
that he overheard them saying, "Let us go to Dothan."<br>
<br>
The Hassidic Rebbe Menachem Mendl of Kotzk comments that "the angel
taught Joseph here that whenever he finds himself wandering on life's
paths, when his soul weeps inside him from despair and doubt, he should
remember first to become clear about what he really wants and years
for. Then he will be able to return to his task; his vision and his
path now will be the same."<br>
<br>
And what is it that Joseph yearns for? As ego, he years for nothing
more than his own self-aggrandizement. As part of the psyche of his
father (also an egotist in his own right, judging from his younger
days!) he is seeking the Shalom/Peace/Wholeness of his brothers. He is
seeking, as deep down each of us is, a reunion with all the disparate
parts within that makes us whole. The brothers, who in a few moments
will try to kill their brother, recognize the forces within each of us
that we choose to ignore, yet which eventually bring about the ultimate
salvation. They represent both the more assertive, even aggressive,
parts within us that will do anything to achieve a goal. Yet, they
also represent the shepherds, the tender ones, the caretakers, and the
compassionate within us all. These brothers, each described later as
unique in his own right, represent the forces from with in that –
though they may seem at odds with each other – realize that the
ultimate way to achieve Shalom/Peace/Wholeness is by sublimating the
ego so that we can realize that we are all a part of the One of the
Universe that is the Divine.<br>
<br>
And so Joseph must be cast in the pit. The ego must be sublimated in
order for the process to begin. The status quo must be supplanted by a
state of upheaval, pain and uncertainty, just as happens to Jacob when
he believes Joseph to be dead. Our security, and even complacency, must
be torn apart, just as Josephs' coat is torn to shreds. Yet, even after
all that occurs, we see that Joseph, the ego, rises again to power in
the house of Potiphar. Yet that episode also ends with him being cast
once again into prison. For the ego does not want to give up its life
– it's hold over us – without putting up a fight!<br>
<br>
The ultimate reunion of brothers with father, the union of all parts of
us with the One will not take place until the end of the book of
Genesis. In the meantime, we will watch as Joseph, our collective ego,
wanders on the paths of his journey until he – until we –finally
discover the answer to the question of the Divine messenger "what are
you looking for?". For, as Reb Menachem Mendl said, we must eventually
come to the place where our vision and our path are one. At that
moment, we will come to realize that each and every step of the path is
about realizing the vision that God is one and that we are one with God.<br>
<br>
Shabbat Shalom.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Steven
P. Nathan<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Campus
Rabbi and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Interim
LGBTQ Advisor<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Hampshire
College <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Office
of Spiritual Life – Box SA<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Amherst,
MA 01002<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Phone:
(413) 559-6234<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Fax:
(413) 559-5663<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><a
href="mailto:snathan@hampshire.edu">snathan@hampshire.edu</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; color: black;">"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."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; color: black;">-Rabbi
Abraham Joshua Heschel</span><span
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