Torah Portion

Joseph's Pride, Hurt Feelings
Kept Him From His Loved Ones

Shabbat
gash:
Genesis 44:18-47:27;
Ezekiel 37:15-28.

I

clearly caused him great pain.
Such a question indeed is logical,
but people rarely behave based on
logic alone. Have any of us been in
a situation where we refuse to rec-
oncile with former loved ones, fam-
ily or friends once a break occurs?
How many of us cause ourselves
and our former beloved such pain
and anguish because of some slight,
insult, betrayal or misdeed that we
refuse to let go of? Our pride sim-
ply won't let us.
We must learn to replace the
hatred and ill will with forgiveness,
renewal, love and concern while
"our loved one is still alive."

ATES
IG
SA

H

born son Menashe (Genesis 41:51)
"... Because God has caused me to
forget all of my toil and my father's
entire household."
Yet, try as he might, Joseph can-
not forget his father. The Torah
repeatedly quotes Joseph as saying:
"Od Avi (chem) Chai?" "Is your
(my) father still alive?" Joseph asks
this question when he first recog-
nizes his brothers (Genesis 43:7)
and again when they return to
Egypt (Genesis 43:27).
Again, when he finally breaks
down and reveals himself
he cries out from the
depths of his emotional
pain and anguish, "Is my
father still alive?" (Genesis

n this week's Torah portion,
Joseph reveals his true identi-
ty to his brothers and ulti-
mately the entire family
enjoys a reunion after some 22
years of separation.
These years were not only years
of physical separation; they
were 22 years of emotional
and personal estrangement
and alienation. Joseph's
motives are far from clear
45:3) .
when he accuses his own
Jacob, for his part, uses
brothers of being spies
the same phrase, "Joseph,
(Genesis 42:9), insists the
my son, is still alive!"
other brothers bring broth-
(Genesis 45:28) when he is
er Benjamin (Genesis
told by his sons and again
42:14) and then accuses
RABBI ELIEZER when they finally meet
Benjamin of stealing his
(Genesis 46:30): "I am
COHEN
goblet (Genesis 44:14).
now prepared to die after
Special to the
This is especially true
I have seen your face —
Jewish News
because it seems whatever
that you are still alive!"
purpose Joseph had was
One could logically ask
short-circuited when he is overcome
why Joseph didn't contact his father
with emotion and cannot contain
and why, by naming his son, did he
himself (45:1), thus failing to carry
exult in this separation that so

We must replace
ill will with
forgiveness.
Pride must not
interfere.

WITH
TN
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out whatever plan he had in mind.
What is clear, though, is that
Joseph made no attempt to contact
and communicate with his family,
including his beloved father, Jacob,
for the entire 22 years, including
the nine years he was viceroy of
Egypt and had every means at his
disposal to locate them and renew
their relationship.
Joseph further reflects this deep
estrangement by naming his first-

Eliezer Cohen is rabbi at Or Chadash

of Oak Park/Huntington Woods.

Conversations

Why is pride so strong as to
cause oneself so much pain?
Why is our ill will so strong
against those we once loved? Can
we facilitate reconciliation
between those we know who are
estranged? Why did Joseph
behave as he did?

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