Torah Sparks
Genesis 41:1 – 44:17
Our Torah portion continues the story of Joseph and continues the motif of dreams. This time it is Pharaoh who dreams. He is very upset that he cannot understand the meaning of his dreams. When his courtiers fail to interpret the dream to his satisfaction Pharaoh’s Chief Butler finally remembers that there is a young Hebrew lad he met in prison and that lad was very talented at dream interpretation. So that lad, Joseph, is brought before Pharaoh and successfully interprets the dreams. And the rest is history.This is a turning point in Joseph’s life. He is taken from the lowest dungeon to the highest position of authority over all of Egypt. And it is, thus, a turning point in the story of his family, for now Joseph is in a position to meet with his brothers again and settle old scores.
We should also notice that this is a turning point in the way this story has approached the significance of dreams. Joseph’s dreams, which get him in trouble when he tells them to his father and brothers, and the dreams of the Chief Baker and Chief Butler, are dreams that are understood by their dreamers and by anyone told of them to be declarations of fate. They are taken as forecasts of the future, predestined. Pharaoh’s dreams are also determinative of the future. In fact Joseph tells Pharaoh that God has sent the dream to him twice to emphasize that the dreams are set to take effect right away. Nevertheless, something new happens here.
With Joseph hearing Pharaoh’s dreams we see, for the first time, that a human being can decide to override the predetermined fate decreed by the dream. Joseph proposes a plan that will take into account what the dreams predict, so that their effects, seemingly a sealed fate, can be mitigated if not cancelled. Human determination can wrestle with predetermination – and win.
Hanukah, as well, along with being a celebration of Divine determination of history (- miracles) is also a celebration of human determination. God could hand to the weak a victory over the mighty, but only because the weak were determined to fight against the mighty in the first place.
May these stories inspire us to redouble our determination to bring sustenance and light into the world, despite the strong forces that seem to be leading to a sadder fate.
Shabbat Shalom v’Hag Urim Same`ah!
Rabbi David Greenstein
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