'RAH PORT ON
Ozanne
DEltiT
cNST;TUTE
OF ARTS
Dali
Degas
Gauguin
Magritte
Be Careful What
You Dream For
Matisse
Modigliani
Monet
Picasso
Shabbat Mevarechim (Parshat
Vayeshev): Genesis 37:1-40:23;
Amos 2:6-3:8.
oseph and the Amazing -
in which the parents are trying to
Technicolor Dreamcoat is
live out their own lives through their
probably the most famous
children. Maybe they did not have
musical based on the Hebrew Bible. It
the business or athletic success they
might be the only one, though I would would have liked, and so they try to
love to see what Sir Andrew
have their children make up
could do with Leviticus.
for it. Sometiriies the par-
The songs in Joseph are
ents in fact did have great
delightful. The story is fun.
success and believe that
Even Donny Osmond was
their children, with enough
perfect (maybe because he
effort, can be just as suc-
has so many siblings). The
cessful.
only problem with the story
If the child has different
is that the biblical Joseph
plans, this can lead to great
never had a coat of many
stress and tension on the
colors. Jacob gave him a
relationship,
even if every-
Rabbi Aaron
ketonet passim, according to
one
really
has
the best of
Bergman
the Midrash, a special long
intentions.
Special to the
sleeved or delicate coat —
If we cause dreams that
Jewish News
a coat not necessarily color-
cannot be lived up to, we
ful, but highly symbolic.
risk inflicting a great deal
In biblical times, such a coat
of harm on our loved ones. As Bruce
seemed to be a sign of tribal leader-
Springsteen sang in "The River": "Is a
ship. Joseph's brothers were not upset
dream a lie if it don't come true/ or is
that their father gave Joseph a fancy
it something worse?"
coat. They were upset
We have to ask our-
Jacob gave
that Jacob wanted to
selves what kind of
make Joseph, the young-
dreams we are giving
est brother, the head of
Josep
to others. Do we give
the tribe, bypassing the
them appropriate levels
normal order of tribal
drea ms that of responsibility? Are we
succession.
generous and kind to
Within a short time
josep h was those who may not be
of receiving this coat,
our favorites? If we can-
Joseph begins to dream
not answer yes, we may
not
a
ble
to
that he is superior to
be causing nightmares
both his brothers and
instead of nurturing
hand le.
then his parents. It
dreams.
is small wonder that
Let us try to make sure
Joseph's brothers try to get rid of him. the dreams we give our loved ones
I have often wondered if Joseph
bring them comfort and peace of
would have had these same dreams
mind. El
had his father not given him the coat
of leadership. The coat itself seemed
Aaron Bergman is a rabbi at Adat Shalom
to cause Joseph's dreams, dreams that
Synagogue in Farmington Hills.
got him into a great deal of trouble.
Jacob, in a sense, gave Joseph
dreams that Joseph was not able to
Conversations
handle. Joseph spent the next 20 years
In creating dreams for our loved
of his life recovering from his father's
ones, do we make them feel safe
plans.
and secure? Do we have reason-
Everyone is entitled to his or her
able career and financial expec-
own dreams. I see so many situations
tations of them?
j
h
Renoir
Rodin
Van Gogh
TO
Modern Masters from the Cleveland Museum of Art
-
-
October 12, 2008 -- January 18, 2009
Masterpiece after masterpiece after
masterpiece. See them now.
For tickets visit www.dia.org or the DIA
Box Office. Members receive FREE tickets.
Join today! 313.833.7971
cp,k7
BankofAmerica
hibition has been organized by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
in Detroit, the exhibition is proudly sponsored by Bank of America. Additional support has been provided by the Michigan
Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the City of Detroit..
Amedeo Miodigliani
1884-1920). Portrait of a Woman (detail); c.1917-18. Oil on canvas; 65 x 48.3 cm. The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Gift of the Hanna Fund 1951.358. i The Cleveland Museum of Art. Karl Schrnidt-Rottluff (German, 1884-1976). 5&f-Portrait oath Hat (detail), 1919.
Oil on canvas; 73.3 x 65 cm. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Bequest of Dr. William R. Valentiner 1965.440. Ci 2008 Artists Rights Society (ARS),
New York/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn.
1415EM
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December 18 • 2008
C5