Parashat Vayeishev: Predictable Unpredictability

Parashat Vayeishev

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.

SAN DIEGO — You’ve heard it many times, “Man plans, G-d laughs.” Or perhaps, like me, you’ve heard this version, “Mentsch tracht, Gott lacht.” I like “Man thinks, G-d Winks.” Regardless, like all of us who prefer to live without being mutchet or tcheppeht, (pressured or bothered), Jacob found that life has its challenges and disappointments. Just when we think all is well in our family, in our career, in our lives, G-d shows us that He has another lesson for us to learn. It seems the only thing predictable about life is how unpredictable it can be.

A lesson? Yes, a lesson. This is based on the Hasidic notion of yeridah tzorech aliyah, meaning “descent for the sake of ascent.” Every setback is a setup for a comeback. The only reason we fall is to rise. Perhaps this is a key life lesson in this week’s parasha. From Rashi we learn that Jacob wanted to live in peace, in shalva, in tranquility, but it was not to be. From the Ramban we see again the notion that we can plan all we want, but it is G-d’s ultimate plan that takes precedence, “Hagezera emet, vehacharitzut sheker.” We live as partners with G-d, between our own free will and G-d’s blueprint for us. Mishlei 19:21 teaches us, “There are many thoughts in a man’s heart, but God’s plan-that shall stand.”

At the beginning of the parasha, we read that Jacob sent Joseph to Hebron. But later Joseph sees it’s all G-d’s will and shares this view with his brothers to relieve them of guilt for having exiled him from the family, “So it was not you who sent me here, but Hashem” Says Nachmanides, “G-d was with Joseph because Joseph realized that whatever he accomplished came from Hashem. Yosef understood that his achievements were not solely the result of his talents. He was G-d’s instrument.” What may have appeared to be Jacob’s choice to send Joseph from Hebron, Joseph understood, was an unfolding of Hashem’s blueprint after all. Jacob may have thought it was his decision to send Joseph away, but with a richer understanding that this week’s reading offers, we see that he was a partner in Hashem’s plan. Yes, we all have our plans, but Hashem is in control. Free will? It lives in G-d’s plan with whom we partner.

This parasha comes near Chanukah to teach us an important lesson in dealing with our spiritual vulnerability. The Greeks wanted to weaken our influence and absorb us into their Hellenist agenda, stripping us of our uniqueness.

Yosef faced his challenge alone. His is a story of immense faith and fortitude. Hashem’s name was constantly in his mind and on his lips. He attributed all to Hakadosh Baruch Hu. He was thrown into jail and in the face of Potiphar’s attempted seduction, continued to demonstrate steadfast faith in Hashem. He was a true tzadek, loyal to his family and to Hashem. Listen to the person reading from the Torah and you will hear the shalshelet, a high note in triplicate for emphasis on this point.

Recall Pharoah admiring Yosef’s dream interpretation. What does Yosef show us? He shows us his indefatigable faith. He responds publicly, “And Joseph replied to Pharaoh, saying, “Not I; G-d will give an answer [that will bring] peace to Pharaoh.” He shows us not to be fearful of publicizing our connection to Hashem, our belief in Him, our trust in Him, our faith in Him.

How comfortable are we in thanking G-d, in mentioning G-d in public, especially in this time of alarmingly increasing antisemitism, as we are seemingly engulfed by the secular world? How awkward are we in bringing Torah learning to our everyday communication? By developing a formidable faith with pride in our belief in G-d, we stand with the Maccabees. Hashem is always with us, and we say “Baruch Hashem” proudly. We learn an important lesson: how to remain Jewish in an alien world.

What happens to someone lacking in Yosef’s strength? Look no further than the most recent Pew data that tells us that more than one-in-ten Jewish Americans (12%) say they attend religious services at least weekly compared with about a quarter of U.S. adults who say they attend religious services weekly or more (27%). U.S. Jews are also less likely than the overall U.S. public to say religion is “very important” to them (21% vs. 41%). There are even bigger gaps when it comes to belief in G-d: Around a quarter of Jews (26%) say they believe in G-d while 56% of all U.S. adults say this. Perhaps this is an element in Chanukah. Hoping to be more accepted by the culture around us, this holiday comes and says we should publicize the miracle by kindling the menorah where others see it, as a strong reminder of our heritage. This is the real miracle of the holiday…that the flame we light surges and continues to ignite our commitment. Rav Kook, zt”l, in his commentary on Mesechet Shabbat writes concerning the miracle of the jar of oil. This miracle is found within each of us, within our neshama, no matter how far we have strayed. By ideally lighting our menorahs at home, we are reminded to not stray from our real home, our sacred heritage.

This week, as Chanukah approaches, let’s recall and embrace the characteristics of Yosef to enrich ourselves during our murky wilderness, our Galus. Be’Ezras Hashem, when we do, we will be just as victorious as Yosef, and proudly bring chesed, mitzvot, and Torah to the world.

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Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D., prepares a weekly D’var Torah for Young Israel of San Diego, where he and his family are members. They are also active members of Congregation Adat Yeshurun. He may be contacted via michael.mantell@sdjewishworld.com