Vayeshev

Joseph & His Dreams

The (previous) events underscore the sad reality, known to all, in the house of Jacob. In this family there were two classes, two categories of sons: the sons of the beloved Rachel and the sons of all the others. Jacob’s sons were well aware of this point, but they were incapable of changing the situation. It never occurred to them to complain to their father, the head of the family, the lofty personage who had a special relationship with God. Jacob’s discrimination naturally led to jealousy, hatred and frustration, but before Joseph’s reporting his dreams, these feelings had not been translated into action…Joseph’s dreams opened the brother’s eyes, revealing to them what he really felt. Now they knew that not only did Jacob consider Joseph his favorite…but Joseph himself was party to this unhealthy favoritism…

Nathan Aviezer (Contemporary)

Joseph is selected here as the stereotype of a Jew...whatever befell Joseph, sooner or later befell Zion etc. Just as Joseph was tending the sheep near his brothers at the beginning of his historic career, so the Jewish people were close to the land of Edom, their cousins at the beginning of its historic career when they received the Torah. By its acceptance of Gods law, Israel – so to speak – brought “evil” reports about other nations who had failed to accept the Torah when it was offered to them…

Yitzchak Arama (15^th Century)

As Joseph journeys to find his brothers, a nameless man appears and inquires of Joseph’s mission. When Joseph responds that he is looking for his brothers, the man points him in the right direction. Perhaps Joseph would not have found his brothers without this chance interaction. Perhaps then, Joseph’s brothers would not have sold him into slavery. He would not have descended into Egypt. He would not have been imprisoned when his master’s wife wrongly accused him of trying to be familiar with her. He would not have met and correctly interpreted dreams for incarcerated former attendants to the king. And in the next parashah, he would not have been asked to interpret the king’s dreams. And he would not have been positioned to eventually help his own family relocate successfully to Egypt during a time of great famine. Had Jacob and his sons not gone into Egypt, there would not have been the eventual enslavement of their descendants nor their redemption as the Jewish people through God’s miracles and the leadership of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

Jill Minkoff (Contemporary)

Joseph is most well known, of course, for his famous coat of many colours. But a piece of distinctive clothing is featured in virtually every episode of Joseph's life. It's as if he had to have a different outfit for each story…It is not the coat, but what the coat represents that makes the brothers hate him. Joseph is thrown in a pit, and his beloved coat smeared with goat's blood, and presented to his father for identification. (Perhaps the brothers' deception with a goat echoes Jacob's earlier deception of his father with goatskins and stolen clothing). In case we haven't gotten the point, Joseph sends clothes back with his brothers, after his emotional disclosure (in Parashat Vayigash- in two weeks). Every time there is a change of fortune, there is a change of clothes. In folk tales, this is a common motif; note how super heroes must change into their costumes. (In Spiderman 2, Peter Parker, sick of the ramifications of being a super hero throws away his 'identity' and must retrieve it before he can re-assume his super hero status). In Joseph's case, we can really say, the clothes make the man!

Baruch Sienna (Contemporary)