RABBI'S THOUGHTS: VAYEISHEV

A Problem Shared...

Two robbers are talking in their shared jail cell:

"What are you in for?"

"I'm here for something I did not do!"

"So you are innocent? What did you do?"

"I did not run fast enough!"

In this week’s Parsha, we read the famous story of Joseph, sold into slavery, being framed by Polisher's wife and sent to prison.

While in prison, Joseph met Pharaoh’s butler and baker, who had been also thrown into jail.  Joseph, despite his own problems, did not choose to share his misery with them, but rather gave them support, listening to their problems and offering suggestions.

Joseph was not in a particularly enviable situation.  He was in a strange land, with no family, in jail, with little prospect of freedom, yet he was able to see beyond this and give to others.

It is very easy to get caught up with ourselves and our own problems as we go through life.  They may be real or perceived, we blow them up into a ‘major deal’ and they take over our lives.  This is not to minimize anybody’s suffering but, nonetheless, we see the importance of maintaining a perspective, of being able to offer support to others even in the midst of our own misery.

From Joseph we see how important it is to reach out to others, to be available, even if we are going through a difficult time ourselves.

May we all be spared such difficulties!

Shabbat Shalom