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The Career Of Joseph
Developed Character

DR. RICHARD C. HERTZ SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

c

hanukah celebrates the
rededication of the an-
cient Temple in Jeru-
salem by the Maccabees
in the year 167 BCE. The Syr-
ian King Antiochus had at-
tempted to suppress the religion
of the Jews. Quite in contrast is
the struggle for survival of the
sons of Jacob and their en-
counter with their brother
Joseph.
This week's sedrah continues
the story and tells how Joseph
played a role in interpreting
Pharaoh's dreams. Joseph was
brought to the palace; Pharaoh
related his dreams, and the He-
brew slave Joseph proceeded to
explain the dream as portend-
ing seven years of great abun-
dance in Egypt to be followed
by a similar period of famine.
Joseph recommended the orga-
nization of a reserve bank of
food for the years of plenty in
order to take care of the years
of famine to come.
Joseph's advice to Pharaoh
struck a responsive cord He was
so impressed by Joseph's ma-
ture wisdom that he adopted
Joseph's suggestions and ap-
pointed him, then scarcely 30
years of age, to be in charge of
the entire program of collection
and distribution of all food in
Egypt.
The biblical account of the el-
evation of Joseph to this office
is unusually rich in detail.
Joseph had many responsibili-
ties in the government. He re-
ported directly to the king. He
even married the daughter of
the High Priest.
As the cycle of famine years
developed, Joseph found his
boyhood dreams fulfilled when
his unsuspecting brothers came
down to Egypt to buy food.He
recognized them but they did
not know him. He decided to de-
tain one of the brothers after
sending the rest home with food
and insisted that they come
back and bring Benjamin, their
youngest brother. He tricked
them by putting their purchase
money into the brothers' sacks
of grain.
The severe famine continued.
Finally Jacob agreed to let the
brothers go back with Benjamin
to Egypt again to buy grain.
Once more the brothers pre-
sented themselves before
Joseph and when Joseph saw
Benjamin he was so overcome
that he had to rush out of the
room.

Dr. Richard C. Hertz is rabbi
emeritus of Temple Beth El.

Just when Joseph had
reached a point in his success-
ful life when he preferred not to
be reminded of his past, he is
now forced to confront it by the
rush of events again with his
brothers. On a previous disas-
trous occasion, Joseph had been
sent by his father to them. Now
it is they whom Jacob unknow-
ingly sent to Joseph. Then
Joseph had been at the mercy
of his brothers. Now he is the
master of the situation and they
come in as suppliants seeking
grain for food.
Joseph how found himself in
the center of conflicting emo-
tions. He is shaken by his un-
pleasant memories, but the
desire for revenge is tempered

Shabbat Miketz:
Genesis 41:1-44:17
Numbers 7:24-29
Zachariah 2:14-4:7.

by the knowledge that his fa-
ther and brother back in
Canaan might be starving. He
wants to know about their wel-
fare, but he doesn't dare give
himself away by appearing too
anxious.
In the discussions before
Joseph, between Ruben and his
brothers, they did not know
that Joseph understood.
The sedrah ends before the
final scene where Joseph re-
veals his true identity and
leaves his brothers dumfound-
ed.
Interestingly enough, this
story is really a secular narra-
tive. There are not miraculous
or supernatural elements.
There are no divine revelations
experienced by Joseph. The sto-
ry in all its detailed complexiti-
ties is told only to show the
conscienceness of God at work.
The unfolding of events is the
direct act of divine providence.
The reader might have
thought that Joseph should
have sought revenge, but when
he saw his brothers from his el-
evated position he had to think
of his father. He subjected his
brothers to a severe test. Only
after they had passed success-
fully their trial was the final act
of the drama ready to emerge
when Joseph would be able to
say, "I am Joseph. Is my father
still well?"
The loom of fate has now
turned full circle. ❑