There are moments when my family
and I become keenly aware that we are living in a foreign country. I don’t mean the cute little cultural
difference between the United States and Canada regarding the pronunciation of
certain words, the spelling of certain words, and the love of all things
hockey. Rather, my family and I become
keenly aware that we are living in a foreign country when something happens and
my children become the resident experts on all things “USA”. Needless to say,
this always arises when America is perceived to be less than the beacon of
democracy than in purports to be. Over the past several weeks we have watched
all kinds of riots, demonstrations, marches and athletes protesting the police
treatment of African Americans. With each shooting, with each death, with each
grand jury failing to indict, the screams of racism have grown louder, the
shouts of the “police are racist” grew louder. Once again, the African American
community was reminded that their perception that there are two brands of
justice: one white and one black is not necessarily unreasonable. As we have watched the demonstrations, as we
read about them in the news, a politically conservative commentator made a very
powerful and true statement regarding the plight of being a black man in
America. The protests concerning the death of Eric Gardner is not just about
Eric Garner; this is 350 years of racial tension and collective memory.
This morning we read from Parshah
Vayeishev. The focus of the narrative now shifts from Yaakov (aka. Israel) to
his most beloved son Yosef. Contextually, Yaakov is at a point in his life where
he has finished his spiritual and personal struggles. He now is at a calm and
settled point in his life, hence the name of the Parshah: Vayeishev – and he settled.
We learn that Yaakov, like his parents, played favorites. He showered Yosef,
Rachel’s son, with a beautiful Kutonet
Pasim – Coat of Many Colors.
Yosef was a bit arrogant. This was manifested in his dreams that portrayed his
greatness and the subjugated his brothers and his parents to his power.
Needless to say, no one appreciated his dreams, neither his brothers who wanted
to kill him but instead threw him into an empty pit, nor his father who sent
Yosef back to his brothers knowing that they were angry with him (Gen.
37:10-14). Yosef is then removed from the pit, sold as a slave and worked in home
of one of Pharaoh’s courtiers. As a slave, Yosef proved invaluable to the
welfare of the Courtier’s business dealings. Yosef managed everything and the
courtier profited greatly. The courtier’s wife however was a bit bored and made
a pass at Yosef. Yosef put her off and then was accused of sexual harassment.
Yosef was sent to prison. While in prison, Yosef helped the warden manage the
prison, and the warden did well. Yosef became known for an ability to interpret
dreams.
Amid all this dysfunctional
behavior, and prior to Joseph being sold to a passing caravan, the Torah shares
the Brother’s response and Jacob’s response to Joseph’s interpretations. After
being told that the sheaves that bow down to the one sheave, and the sun, moon,
and stars that bow down to Yosef, VaiKanu
Vo Echav V’Aviv Shamar et HaDavar – And
his brother’s envied him [Joseph] but his father kept the matter in mind. What
does it to “keep the incident in mind”?
Jacob will keep reliving the incident? Rashi explains that Mamtin Umtzape Matai Yavo – That Jacob waited and watched to see when
Josephs’ words would come true. Perhaps Jacob didn’t completely believe his
son so he wanted to see if it would come true. However it seems that there is
another possible understanding of the verse. Immediately after this incident,
Jacob sends Joseph to where the brothers are shearing the sheep. Jacob knowingly sent his beloved to son into a
dangerous situation in which Joseph was left completely vulnerable. How do we
reconcile the favoritism that Jacob has always shown Joseph with the utter lack
of protection that he affords him now by sending him off to join the brothers? Shamar et a HaDavar – Jacob kept the incident of the dreams in mind,
and when the opportunity came for Jacob to teach his son a lesson, he did. When
the opportunity came for Joseph to learn a lesson about how to behave with his
brothers and father, Jacob sent him to his brothers.
The power of memory can be very
strong. It can cripple and it can liberate. It can serve as excuse for
victim hood or it can be used to elevate a nation to strive towards the highest
ideals of Justice and Democracy, ideals upon which that nation was founded
upon. The remarkable thing about the recent demonstrations, particularly in New
York City has been the participants. They are male and female. They are White,
Black, Asian and Hispanic. They are Jew and Non-Jew. They are peaceful and they
all identify with the fact that an injustice has occurred. Likewise the police
who made sure that the demonstration remained peaceful were male and female,
black white, Asian and Hispanic. The recent march in New York was not just
about one incident, but rather all incidents over the course of a nation’s
history in which an injustice was perpetrated upon a minority, and a peaceful
way to show disappointment and perhaps influence policy in the future. Unfortunately,
we become much more aware of those incidents and injustices when we are outside
looking in.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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