Vayeshev - All I have to do is DREAM!!!

Vayeshev -  All I have to do is DREAM!!!
December 4/5, 2015  Kislev 22/23,5776

In this week's Torah portion/Parsha, we find Joseph who is cast down into dire circumstances! First his brothers basically toss and disregard him into a pit, and sell him into slavery,and then later, after he's worked his way up the Egyptian status ladder, he is framed and set up for advancements and sexual misconduct, and finally, he is thrown into prison.

The first comes about because of Joseph's dream interpretations. He has two dreams of dominance -- one, that his brothers' sheaves of wheat bow down to his; the other, that the moon and sun and stars all bow down to him -- and these raise his brothers' ire so strongly that they plot against him!

The second downfall comes about because of Joseph's moral scruples. Potiphar's wife tries to seduce him; he fends her off with honesty and all his will; she tears his cloak off, and uses it as "proof" that he acted improperly. This time, his dream interpretations come to his rescue; he is able to make sense of the dreams of several fellow prisoners, and one of those prisoners ultimately reports this to Pharaoh, who is in need of a good dream interpreter, thankfully!

How is that his dream interpretations get him into trouble?
I think what has changed is Joseph.

At the start of his journey
,he is younger and maybe somewhat spoiled or favored -- remember that amazing technicolor dreamboat! no one else in his family has anything like that -- and insensitive to how his dreamy tales might anger or offend his older brothers. He tells his dream stories at the breakfast table, some-what unaware that what he's saying might be hurtful. That doesn't excuse his brothers' actions, but at least it makes some sense out of what and why they do what they do.

All of this just might be what really matures Joseph in a hurry. And once he enters Potiphar's house, we read that G-D was with Joseph! Two times in the early Potiphar story, and twice again after Joseph is jailed. The presence of G-d is with him, and as a result, even his continuing misfortunes don't shake him!   Very Strong and with lots of pure faith!

Perhaps because G-d is with him, or perhaps because he is older and wiser, when he begins interpreting dreams in prison he does so in a way that helps his fellows, instead of angering them. Beyond that, he doesn't take credit for the interpretations; he begins by saying "Surely G-d can interpret!" -- giving credit for his wisdom to G-d, and rightfully so.

When Joseph interprets his own dreams, insensitive to the needs of those around him, he sets misfortune, but when he interprets the dreams of others, mindful of the Source from Whom his interpretations flow, he begins to rise through the ranks, on the path toward becoming the powerful man whose wisdom will allow the Egyptians, and the Israelites, to survive the famine to come.

What can we learn from this piece of Joseph's story?  First, that we need to take each others' feelings into account when we open our mouths.
Second, we can learn that, like Joseph, we are capable of change. When his story begins he is brash and a little bit unthinking. After a few hard knocks, he grows more able to bend, capable of putting his talents to work in the service of others, and capable of remaining thankful to G-d.

All of us descend, in one way or another, into difficult circumstances at some times in our lives. If those circumstances help us to grow and mature, then like Joseph we can help others out of their own binds -- which, in turn, means helping ourselves.

And third, we can learn that when G-d is with us, we can face our fear. Perhaps having G-d be with him doesn't necessarily mean everything goes the way he might wish, but having G-d with him is a state of mind, a kind of trust that things will unfold as they should, that he can handle -- and learn from -- whatever arises.

Have faith,dream BIG,and believe,as G-D is with you down your path.