!TORAH PORTION I
The Torah Description
Of A Successful Man
RABBI MORTON YOLKUT
Special to The Jewish News
0
nly once in the entire
Torah is there a refer-
ence to a "successful
man." That was Joseph,
whom we are told was an ish
mazliach, a successful man.
(Gen. 39:1-2).
What is success? In our age
and culture success is usual-
ly and mistakenly associated
with great material
achievements, with power,
money, glamour and populari-
ty. That is the American
definition of success — the
criteria used for the "rich and
famous" of our society.
And yet, the Torah presents
us with an alternative and
more profound definition of
success. The Jewish definition
of a success story can be found
in examining Joseph's life
story.
Joseph, throughout his life,
faced a series of critical tests.
Shabbat Vayigash:
Genesis
44:18-47:27,
Ezekiel 37:15-28.
They represent the types of
crises and problems ex-
perienced by all of us during
our lifetimes.
First, at the tender age of
17, he was persecuted by his
own brothers, torn away from
his family and thrown into an
alien environment. The love
and care of a doting father is
now replaced by the harsh
demands of a slave owner. It
is obviously a period of gloom
and doom in his young life.
Two possibilities exist at
such a moment. One can be
overcome with self pity,
despair and hopelessness. Or
he can determine to make the
best of a difficult situation
and face the future with hope
and faith.
Joseph opted for the second
alterantive. In his hour of
misfortune and trouble he
was imbued with faith in
God, and because "God was
with Joseph," he never lost
hope. He applied himself to
his work; he found the bless-
ing in the curse; he did the
best he could do under dif-
ficult circumstances. He was,
therefore, an ish mazaliach.
The next crisis provided
Joseph with a serious moral
test. He had to face the power-
ful attraction of the mistress
Morton Yolkut is rabbi of
Congregation B'nai David.
of the house and fight against
temptation and evil. As the
midrash indicates, it was not
an easy matter. But again
Joseph succeeded, for at the
height of this crisis he was
not alone. He was conscious of
his moral responsibilities, of
his presence before the
Almighty and of his father's
teachings and reputation. In
a forceful tone he replied,
"How can I do this great evil
and sin against God?" (Gen.
39:9).
The third crisis of Joseph's
life came when he faced the
powerful pharoah and
brilliantly interpreted his
dream. From the bottom of a
dark pit, he had now risen to
the heights of fame and suc-
cess. He was about to become
the viceroy of Egypt. All ad-
mired his wisdom and in-
genuity. It was so easy, so
tempting to become vain and
arrogant, to great success in
a mood of self-congratulation.
Joseph in characteristic
humility, however, answers,
"It is not in me, only God will
give an answer to Pharoah"
(Gen. 41:16).
Once again Joseph has suc-
ceeded. He has not permitted
his meteoric rise in populari-
ty to corrupt or compromise
his life.
The final crisis of his life is
recorded in this week's sidra.
How will Joseph deal with his
brothers after so many years
of estrangement?
When Joseph reveals his
identity to his brothers, he
immediately reassures them
of his fraternal feelings by
declaring, "For it was to
preserve life that God sent me
ahead of you . . . to give you
a remnant on the earth . . . to
save your lives in a great
deliverance" (Gen. 45:5-7).
Notice how often Joseph
refers to God at this tense mo-
ment when he re-introduces
himself to his brothers.
These are the types of crises
we all face in life. All of us, at
one time or another, fight
depair, battle our conscience,
seek to retain humility in the
face of success, attempt to
repair estrangements with
those nearest and dearest to
US.
If throughout these various
vicissitudes of life we
remember that man is not
alone, that man must be
responsible for all of his
deeds, and that in spite of all
our achievements our lives
are in the hands of God, then
we, too, like Joseph, will have
succeeded. ❑
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