Permit to me begin with one of my favorite stories about two bedridden men who shared a room in a nursing home. One man occupied a bed next to the window and the other was across the room next to the the door. Because the man next to the door could not see out the window, he asked his roommate to tell him about the happenings in the outside world. Every day, the window side man gave his friend a report. He told him about the postman who made his rounds wearing a raincoat and boots in rainy weather and short sleeves on sunny days. He told him about the lovers who passed his window every day at noon. He described how they first held hands then embraced and then parted. He even spoke about the backward glances the two would give each other, showing they longed for one another's presence. The door side man lived for these reports. Unfortunately the window side man died and another man was wheeled into the room to take his place. The man next to the door introduced himself and asked his new roommate to share with him the goings on outside the window. "Of course," replied the new occupant, "Only I don't know how I can do that, there is nothing outside the window but a brick wall."
Amazing story! The first occupant near the window had vision that helped make life brighter for him and his roommate.
I ask,"What is our vision? How can we look at our world and our surroundings and begin to find the inherent beauty that envelopes us daily?"
This week we begin to get a true glance into the life of Joseph. We begin to read of his sterling qualities which can serve for us as a prototype of a Jew who lives in the Galut and still maintains his strong identity as a Jew and as a righteous person.
Joseph sees life in a two pronged way, as evidenced from his visions which he shares with his brothers.
The first dream/vision was where he sees the Alumot, the sheaves, which rose and stood up high while the sheaves of his brothers came and bowed down to his.
The second dream was of the sun and the moon and the stars bowing down to him.
Many of our commentaries speak about the reaction that the brothers had to these dreams. They felt they were being maligned and subjugated by their brother.
I would like to focus on what these two dreams and visions mean to us. We, in a like matter, live in a Galut environment and we may be able to learn from Joseph's dreams how to prosper and live as devoted Jews in our society.
Let us review the dreams; The first speaks of Sheaves, which are reflective of the material and the economic power and of the prosperity and opulence found in our society.
The other dream referring to the cosmos, the stars and the sky, seems to reflect upon the spiritual and the heavenly grandeur, that is equally present.
What seems apparent is that Joseph wanted to achieve both in his lifetime. He wanted to be powerful in a political sense and attain wealth and prosperity. At the same time, he wanted to be respected as a spiritual person and to be loved by all for his righteousness and his benevolence.
Joseph wanted to synthesize the Alumot and the heavenly bodies into one cohesive way of life, bringing blessing and accord from G-D and from man. This was his vision and it seems he truly accomplished his goal, for he is uniquely called יוסף הצדיק a title that no other biblical personality has achieved.
This is our lesson in life. This is the lesson that our Heroes of Chanukah, the Chashmonaim, projected to all, a lesson worthy to be followed.
The Chashmonaim reflected this important synthesis, as they were excellent warriors, and when they were victorious, laid down their swords and ran to the Temple and immediately searched for a cruse of oil to light the Menorah and to achieve, once again, the Kedusha that emanated from the influence of יוסף הצדיק, to bring together the Alumot of the physical and materialistic power and the Kedusha of the celestial heavenly bodies of G-Dliness found in our holy temple. This is our lesson, today, no matter where we reside.
As the news unfolds, we take great pride to realize that our modern day Maccabim in Israel are part of an historic event as we learned of the decision of the President of the United States of America, Mr. Donald Trump, to recognize the City of Jerusalem as the United and Eternal Capital of The State of Israel. These are times when we should all bless our country for taking this enormous step of diplomacy. Hopefully, this will lead to peace with Israel and its neighbors.
We need to sing out with pride G-D bless America and
הי יברך את עמו בשלום.
שבת שלום ומבורך
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