Rabbi Roodyn

We now begin what is in my opinion, the most dramatic story in the Torah.

Yaakov favours Yosef, the son of his beloved deceased wife Rachel over all his other sons. Yosef himself becomes the object of scorn, derision and even attempted murder due to his illusions of grandeur, something his brothers simply cannot tolerate. He naively falls into their trap and in no time finds himself sold as a slave to a foreign country and hostile spiritual environment.

Once in Egypt, Yosef enjoys great success but at the same time finds himself in a compromising situation not of his own making which ultimately lands him in prison. Even in prison he rises to a position of authority and ultimately, in a dramatic turn of events, rises from the depths to become Pharaoh’s second in command.

It is from this position that he is able to introduce an economic policy that cements Egypt’s position as a world superpower and at the same time brings his dreams to fulfilment. Famine drives his brothers down to Egypt and Yosef finds them at his feet.

Chazal tell us that Yaakov was only willing to engage with Esav once Yosef has been born, his is the flame that will incinerate Esav and his desire to extinguish the Jewish people. The obvious question is why is Yosef the only one who is able do this?

Yosef’s life is full of trials and tribulations, yet he holds firm to his identity in the face of adversity, confident that he is part of a bigger picture. The story of ‘Joseph and his technicolour dreamcoat’ is actually once of Divine providence and revealing Hashem into the world through a series of events where He at first glance seems absent. This is the antidote to Esav and his world-view that stresses the primacy of this world and living for the thrill of the moment. For Esav and his descendant Amalek, this world is but a collection of random events and then we die. For Yosef and for us, this world is a collection of masterfully orchestrated events that are slowly but surely bringing the world to perfection.

Yosef Hatzaddik, the epitome of the Jew in exile teaches us that we too can reveal Hashem’s providence into the world if only we will open our eyes and see it. There is no better way of combatting Esav and his superficial world-view than this.

Good Shabbos