Joseph the Slave Master

Vayigash

Genesis 44:18 - 48:27

Précis: We approach the end of the Joseph saga. Benjamin is being held by Joseph as the alleged thief of a gold cup. Judah comes near (vayigash) Joseph, and begs for his brother’s life, offering himself as a substitute. Joseph is overcome and reveals himself to his brothers, forgiving them for selling him into slavery, stating that it was all part of God’s plan. Joseph sends them back home to bring Jacob and their families down to Egypt in order to survive the upcoming famine. They comply, and Joseph arranges for them to reside in the land of Goshen, living off “the fat of the land” at Pharaoh’s insistence. During the remainder of the famine, Joseph purchases land and cattle for Pharaoh, making serfs of the Egyptian people, in exchange for the grain stored during the seven years of plenty. The Israelites prosper and multiply.

Genesis 47:14-21 “And Joseph collected all the silver to be found in Egypt and in Canaan in return for provisions they were buying…and all Egypt came to Joseph, saying ‘We cannot hide that the silver is gone and the animal stocks are now yours. Please take possession of our farmland…and we will be slaves to Pharaoh.’ And Joseph took possession of all the farmland of Egypt for Pharaoh…and one-fifth of the produce was for Pharaoh.’”

            In this week’s reading, when the famine he had predicted arrives, Joseph oversees the sale of the grain to the hungry Egyptians. They first pay cash for the grain, but their savings are soon gone. Joseph next collects their property as payment for food: their livestock and then their land. When even their land becomes Pharaoh’s personal property, the Egyptians offer to become Pharaoh’s slaves. 

            While today we recoil from the concept of accepting slavery under any circumstances, the text does not criticize Joseph as the organizer of this enslavement. In fact, the text makes the Egyptians responsible for their own slavery: they suggest in the quoted verses above the idea of their service, and later express gratitude when it is accepted (see 47:25: “You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh”).

While our tradition considers Joseph to be righteous, there is a thought that the subsequent enslavement of the Israelites by the Egyptians was made easier because Joseph introduced the concept of slavery to Egypt, and this was turnaround as fair play. Moreover, the Egyptians become inheritors of a new inter-generational debt: the land is Pharaoh’s, and 20% of all produce is to be given to Pharaoh as part of a never-ending payment. Today we call this practice “share cropping” and in America it was a system which kept the poor in poverty for generation after generation. It's also a system which keeps many impoverished around the world today.

Joseph solved the problem of hunger by turning Pharaoh into an absolute ruler of a nation of slaves. In today’s world, control of food remains a tool of dictatorial authorities. When the world is awash in foodstuff, all too many remain hungry. Joseph’s response to hunger cannot be our own. Our choice should be to feed the hungry with a generous spirit, teach them to raise marketable crops, and support local and sustainable agriculture.

ISO Discernment and Wisdom

Mikketz

Genesis 41:1-44:17

Précis: At the end (mikketz) of two years of Joseph’s imprisonment, Pharaoh dreams of cows and ears of corn. The wine steward who had shared Joseph’s cell now remembers him and calls him from prison. Joseph predicts seven years of plenty, followed by seven years of famine. Pharaoh is so impressed that he appoints Joseph as his chief vizier and Joseph goes about storing grain during the times of plenty. Joseph marries Asenath and they have two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. When the famine comes, Jacob sends his sons to Egypt to purchase food. Joseph has them brought in while he remains in cognito. Joseph accuses the brothers of spying, and sends them home after they promise to return with their youngest brother, Benjamin. Upon their return, the brothers (including Benjamin) meet the still-revealed Joseph. Joseph has their bags filled not only with grain but also with the money used to purchase the grain and has a gold cup hidden in Benjamin’s belongings. When they are “caught” by Joseph’s men, they learn that whoever stole the cup would become Joseph’s slave, while the others return to their homeland. On this cliffhanger, the parasha ends.

Genesis 41:33-36   “’Now let Pharaoh find a man of discernment and wisdom, and set him over the land of Egypt...and… organize the land of Egypt in the seven years of plenty. Let all the food of the good years that are coming be gathered, and let… that food be a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which will come.’”

            Pharaoh’s dreams cannot be explained by his courtiers, and so Joseph is recalled from prison. Joseph foretells seven years of plenty, followed by seven of famine; he suggests that Pharaoh appoint a man of discernment and wisdom ("navon ve-hakham") to see Egypt through the ensuing years. Why two attributes? Ramban suggests that these terms relate to distinct kinds of learning: (1) the ability to set goals and (2) how to apply knowledge to achieve those goals.

Leadership is more than the exercise of power; it also requires knowledge that can be applied properly and thoughtfully to appropriate circumstances.

The United States now faces a “fiscal cliff” and our economic future is uncertain. Israel has a temporary truce with Hamas and faces threats from all sides; the correct course of action to take appears unclear.

In both nations, we can hope that leaders of all parties and factions can come together and display the kind of discernment (through mutual goal setting) that Joseph demonstrated when he warned of the need to save surplus grain for seven years. We can pray that our leaders display the kind of wisdom Joseph showed to find ways to achieve the goals we so desperately seek.

Unfortunately, we do not seem to have a modern-day Joseph in either the United States nor in Israel who can stand up and make Joseph-like pronouncements. We have leaders in both nations who are seeking what is best, in their eyes, for each nation. Whether they can overcome the obstacles they face and attain real wisdom remains to be seen. During this celebration of Hanukah, we recall that a “great miracle happened there.” Miracles can still happen, both here and there.