>> Torah portion
Twist Of Destiny
Parshat Vayeishev: Genesis 37:1-
40:23; Amos 2:6-3:8.
I
man who altered the course of the
recently heard Sen. Carl Levin
Jewish people's destiny?
discussing fate. He explained
Rashi quotes a midrash that
how he and his wife, Barbara,
explains that this man was the
were having dinner with another
angel Gabriel. Maimonides teaches
couple and the man shared a story
that this encounter is recorded to
that had happened more than 40
teach us that God mandates even
years earlier.
the seemingly innocuous events in
The man said he turned into a
Joseph's life.
parking spot just as another car was
Joseph was living a
turning into the same
predictable, good life as
spot. The cars crashed. He
the heir designate of the
got out to speak with the
Israelites. He didn't have
woman who hit his car,
to work like his broth-
but instead of being hos-
ers, and his position as
tile the two started laugh-
most favorite son seemed
ing. Sen. Levin asked his
secure. This random man
friend if he's still in touch
in the wilderness altered
with the woman. The man
the course of his predict-
pointed to his wife and
able life, which sent him
said, "I've been married to
on a tortuous journey that
her for over four decades."
included being thrown
Think about how differ-
into a pit, sold into slavery
ent that man's life would
and imprisoned in an Egyptian jail.
be had he not had that minor car
Therefore, it can be said that if there
accident in a parking lot. Many
were no man in the field to give
happily married couples claim that
Joseph directions to his brothers,
their relationship is beshert (des-
then there would be no Exodus from
tined), but how many couples can
Egypt and, thus, no Passover. No
really say that destiny brought them
mysterious man; no matzah!
together? (Finding your soul mate
While it is important that we all
on JDate means the computer dat-
contribute to our own efforts, ulti-
ing site works, but it's not destiny.)
mately our destiny is determined by
Sometimes, odd occurrences cause
God. When we are faced with adver-
our lives to turn in directions we
sity, an odd factor could change
could never have predicted. When
everything and set us on the path
something unforeseen occurs we
we've been waiting for all along.
may think the worst, but the end
Think about a woman who loses
result can be positive.
her job, and while she's out of work
In this week's Torah portion,
she is finally able to create that
Vayeishev, there is an odd scene in
product she has dreamed about. Or
which Joseph, following his father
a single man who is depressed that
Jacob's command, ventures off into
he is forced to relocate to a new
the field looking for his brothers.
city, but it is there where he meets
Joseph does not find them, but does
his wife and starts the family he's
not turn back. Instead, the text
dreamed about.
tells us that "a man discovered him
Unfortunately, no one knows when
wandering in the field" and asked
fate will affect us. The message of
Joseph, "What do you seek?"
Joseph tells the unnamed man that the Torah, however, is that when
we're least expecting it, a minor act
he is looking for his brothers and
can have a significant impact.
asks if he could tell him where they
are pasturing. The man replies, "They
Rabbi Jason Miller is the rabbi of
have journeyed on from here, for I
Congregation T'chiyah in Oak Park and the
heard them say, `Let us go to Dotan:"
director of Kosher Michigan.
With the man's helpful directions,
Joseph locates his brothers and our
people's history is shaped for eterni-
Conversations
ty. That mysterious man plays a piv-
Can you identify an experience
otal role in Jewish history because
in your life that was unforeseen
without his help, there would be
but proved to have significant
no story of Joseph's capture and
influence on you?
sale, which ignites the story of our
enslavement in Egypt. Who was this
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