Rabbi Marc D. Rudolph

In our parsha for this week, Miketz, Pharoah has two dreams and calls for his wise men and his magicians to interpret them. After they can offer no solution to the dreams, Pharoah’s cupbearer remembers that Joseph, a young man he met when he was in prison, had interpreted the different dreams of him and the royal baker. The rabbis comment on this:

God said to Himself, “If Joseph comes first and interprets the dream, they will not praise him. Pharaoh’s magicians will say to Pharaoh, “If you called us first, we could have interpreted the dreams.” Rather, as soon as Pharaoh woke from his dreams, he “sent for and called” his magicians and wise men. Pharoah’s magicians and wise men exhausted themselves and vented their frustration, and only then did the cupbearer remember Joseph. As it says in Proverbs, “The fool vents all his frustration and anger, [these are Pharaoh’s magicians and wise men] but the wise person calms it down [this is Joseph]”

The Malbim comments on this verse of Proverbs. He writes that we all have passions such as pride, jealousy, and resentment. These feelings can rise up from the depth of our souls and threaten to overcome us. The “fool” allows these passions to govern their behavior. The “fool” gives full expression to their feelings. When they well up in the “wise person”, however, he or she fights to subdue them. While recognizing the feelings that they are having, the wise person masters them and behaves with equanimity.

This then was Joseph. Rebuked by his father, betrayed by his brothers, falsely accused by his master, forgotten by his fellow prisoner, Joseph no doubt had his share of resentment, anger, and jealousy kicking around in the depth of his soul. But in his audience with the Pharaoh, he does not let it show. He subdues his passions and retains his composure throughout. “None are as wise as you,” says an admiring Pharaoh to Joseph at the conclusion of this episode. Perhaps this is why the Rabbis call him “Yosef Ha-Tsadik” – Joseph the Righteous.

Shabbat Shalom

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