Who is Joseph? The eternal dreamer; the wearer of the technicolor coat; the interpreter of dreams; or the all-powerful viceroy of Egypt?
He was, in fact, all of these, but his impact on the Jewish People is defined by the later. For we see in Joseph the beginning of a pattern that will repeat many times during Jewish history: how a humble Jew rises to power through his own skills and knowledge and then overexerts that power with dramatic consequences.
Joseph became the first “Jew on the Hill” – a persona exemplified by indispensable skills, extreme authority and the object of admiration coupled with jealousy and resentment.
Those shared sentiments represent a double-edged sword.
In the case of the Joseph, the tipping point was reached when he persuaded Pharaoh to sell Egypt’s stored grain in exchange for property. The ancient Egyptians felt the threat of disenfranchisement in their own land, and the ugly face of hatred reared its head, claims of foreigners taking over their land got the upper hand. The rest is history, from Egypt to modern times.
There is a lot to be said for Court Jews; they have saved hundreds of lives and secured the stability of Jewish life. But there are limits as to what is reasonable power and acceptable wealth.
We cannot know if 400 years of slavery in Egypt could have been prevented. While Jews are not responsible for hatred directed toward us, and there is no justification for persecution of Jews or any minority, it is incumbent upon us to we exert power and influence in just, reasonable and even modest ways.
As the prophet has said: “It has been told to you man what is good. And what the Lord requires of you. Only to do justice and acts of loving kindness and to walk humbly before God.”
