A Trustworthy Light
Our reading in the book of Genesis this week comes from Parashat Vayeshev, which comes from Genesis 37-40. This is the ninth portion of the Torah and is called in English “and he lived” after the first word of this scripture portion. This parsha consists, really, of three major stories:
1) The first story reveals the anger Joseph’s brothers held against him because of his dreams and because he was the young, favorite, and spoiled son of his father Jacob. Moses will tell us how the brothers took Joseph’s coat, put him in a pit, argued about his future, and eventually sold him to Midianite traders. We will see how Joseph’s coat was dipped in goat’s blood and taken back to Jacob in order to cover his sons’ crime.
2) This passage contains the racy story of Tamar. The story begins by telling us how Judah moved from home and married a Canaanite woman who bore to him three sons named Er, Onan, and Shelah. Judah arranges for Er to marry Tamar, a young woman of the land – but Er is evil and G!d takes his life. By levirate law, Tamar is supposed to marry Er’s younger brother, but both Onan and Shelah refuse this duty. Tamar then seeks to fulfill the obligation by acting the part of a prostitute along the route traveled by Judah. Judah hires her and leaves her the tokens of his signet ring and his staff in a promise of payment. When Tamar is found to be pregnant, Judah (who did not recognize her earlier) seeks to void the levirate obligation. Tamar surprises Judah and the court by producing Judah’s ring and staff. She later gives birth to twins – Zerah and Perez.
3) After detouring into the story of Judah and Tamar, Moses returns to the story of Joseph. He tells how Joseph is sold by the Midianite traders into slavery in Egypt. Through G!d’s direction, this young man is sold to Potiphar, captain of Pharaoh’s guard. Joseph faithfully fulfills his duties and earns great respect from the head of the house. But in a twist to the story, Potiphar’s wife is attracted to Joseph and desires to take him to bed. Joseph flees from the trap, rouses the anger of his boss, and is placed in Pharoah’s highest prison.
And 4) Our scripture portion concludes with one final story which will set up events for next week’s portion: Pharaoh becomes upset by his butler and baker and places them in prison. Each man has a dream which is interpreted by Joseph.
The message we heard in synagogue this week highlighted a truth worth noting from this week’s parsha. The speaker (a substitute for the rabbi) brought out the ways that Joseph was a shining light (just as the shamas candle of the menorah emits light which is shared throughout the holiday). During the dreams, Joseph acted as a spokesman for G!d. While serving in the household of Potiphar and also in prison, Joseph served as an example through his fulfillment of obligations and by living as a trustworthy person.
G!d desires for us to listen to him and respond by living in a trustworthy manner – by fulfilling and going beyond the expected obligations of life. Just like the lights of Chanukah are supposed to be placed where they can be seen, our lives should be placed so others can see the light of G!d shining through us!
