In this week’s Torah portion of Vayeshev (Genesis 37:1-40:23), we read the remarkable story of Joseph. Despite being loathed by his brothers, who sell him to a group of Ishmaelite nomads, his journey turns for the worse as he is sold at an Egyptian slave auction to serve Pharaoh’s royal butcher. When faced with the seductive advances of his master’s wife, Joseph’s steadfast refusal leads to his unjust imprisonment in a dungeon for twelve long years.
During his time behind bars, he encounters two fellow inmates—the royal butler and the royal baker—whose dreams he interprets with remarkable insight. This very gift becomes crucial when Pharaoh summons him to unravel his own troubling dreams, paving the way for Joseph’s liberation and rise to Pharaoh’s trusted second-in-command. He goes on to save Egypt as well as his own family from starvation.
I would like to focus on a tiny but remarkable detail: While in prison, Joseph observes that the wine steward and the baker appear despondent. “Why are your faces looking so sad today?”
Why does Joseph care if these guys are having a bad day? They were not his friends. But to Joseph, the fact that G-d had arranged for him to notice someone in need indicated that it was his duty to help.
Joseph lived with an understanding that all events unfold for a purpose, believing wholeheartedly that each challenge was divinely orchestrated. In every circumstance, he embodied the belief that Divine Providence guides us toward our true path.
Let us draw upon this lesson as we face our own trials and tribulations. May we muster the courage to confront any adversities that may arise in our lives by recognizing that everything originates from G-d and serves a greater purpose. Rather than succumbing to feelings of victimhood, let us strive to seize the opportunities granted by Divine Providence with gratitude and determination.
I wish you a good week, and Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Yonatan Hambourger, y@tasteoftorah.org
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