Spirituality
TORAH PORTION
TURN MICHIGAN
Joseph Loses Ego
And Finds Humility
Parshat Miketz: Genesis 41:1-44:17;
Zechariah 2:14-4:7.
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38
December 2 2010
he story of Joseph takes up
four of the 12 parshiyot of
the Book of Genesis, a full
third of the book. Over that time, we
are able to see change and develop-
ment in Joseph.
One important aspect of Joseph's
maturation is the way he
sees himself in the con-
text of the world around
him. Just a few weeks
ago, we met Joseph as a
teenager, the focus of his
father Jacob's attention
and love, unaware of the
jealousy of his broth-
ers and foolish enough
to speak aloud his own
perception that he is the
center of the family.
The results are tragic
for him. Joseph is nearly
killed by his own brothers, thrown
in a pit and finally taken into exile
unlikely ever to return.
Joseph is resilient though. Finding
himself in the home of Potiphar,
he again becomes the center of
attention. Potiphar and his wife are
drawn to Joseph and Joseph is given
great power within the household.
Rather than welcoming this success
humbly, Joseph sees the success as
another sign that he is unique, wor-
thy of this special treatment.
The Torah points out that "Joseph
was well built and handsome."
(Genesis 39:6) The rabbis say that
Joseph was so taken with his new-
found power that he spent a lot of
time pampering himself by eat-
ing, drinking and styling his hair.
This self-centeredness leads to the
unwanted attentions of Potiphar's
wife, eventually landing Joseph in
jail. Joseph's life is repeating itself.
He is back in the pit.
Has Joseph learned his lesson? In
Parshat Miketz, Joseph is brought
forth from jail and given the oppor-
tunity to interpret Pharaoh's dream.
In fact, upon meeting Joseph,
Pharaoh shines the spotlight directly
on him, "I have had a dream, but
no one can interpret it. Now I have
heard it said of you that for you to
hear a dream is to tell its meaning?'
Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, the
most powerful man in Joseph's
world is telling Joseph that he is
special. When someone like that tells
you that you are special, you are apt
to believe.
Nevertheless, Joseph will
not be fooled into believ-
ing that he is the center of
the world again. His life
has proven it to be untrue.
In spite of his great cha-
risma and qualities, he
does not inhabit a world
of his own making. He
has changed and matured.
Joseph can now respond to
Pharaoh out of the great
faith that he has earned
in the darkness of the pit,
"Not I! God will see to
Pharaoh's welfare?'
Joseph has finally learned a pain-
ful lesson. We live our lives within
the context of a much broader can-
vass than we sometimes imagine.
Exaggerating our own importance
may make us feel important, but if
we allow ourselves to see past our
inflated egos so that our vision takes
in God's hopes for us and the people
around us, we will have a much
greater chance to play a positive role
in the world.
❑
Rabbi Steven Rubenstein is the rabbi
of Congregation Beth Ahm in West
Bloomfield.
Conversations
1.How did you play a "positive
role in the world" today?
2. Can you think of a time when
you let your ego get the better
of a situation?
3. How can you overcome those
moments?