Rabbi’s Message

Rabbi Natan Halevy

Parashat Vayeshev 5786, BSD

Shalom Uvracha.

We learn about the story of Joseph and his brothers in this week’s Torah portion. We always hear about how Jacob favored him, and hear the simple explanations for why this was: mainly that Joseph was the first born son of Rachel whom Jacob loved so much. And especially since she had passed away at a young age, therefore Jacob loved him even more. This led to Jacob showing overt favoritism to Joseph over his brothers, and them becoming jealous of him, hating him deeply and eventually selling him as a slave.

At first glance, this entire episode paints Jacob in a petty manner! How could one of the greatest spiritual giants — the “choicest of the Fathers,” the one whose image is engraved upon the Holy Throne according to the Midrash — fall into such a destructive mistake?

At the same time, we hear about Jacob’s lofty spiritual stature, and that he was the most complete of our 3 forefathers. How does this fit with the above-mentioned story of Joseph and his brothers? What are we meant to understand from the Torah’s portrayal of this complicated family dynamic?

Jacob’s favoritism, while problematic on a surface level, can be reexamined through the lens of spiritual purpose. His connection to Joseph transcends familial preference and aligns with a broader divine mission.

To understand this, we must dig a little deeper and look at the spiritual side of this story.

Joseph as Jacob’s True Continuation

In a puzzling manner, the Torah states:

“These are the offspring of Jacob — Joseph…”

(Bereishit 37:2)

It doesn’t bother to mention any of the other siblings who were born before him. The Torah is making a remarkable statement: Joseph was deeply connected to Jacob in the deepest parts of his soul, in a way that was different from the other brothers. The Midrash teaches that everything that happened to Jacob happened to Joseph as well — spiritually they were mirrors of one another.

Joseph was on a high level of righteousness, and this was why he was tested and suffered so much more than his brothers. Great souls are given great missions — and great challenges.

Joseph embodies the spirit of righteousness — tzidkut — and the capacity to uplift others from spiritual despair. His trials and triumphs in Egypt showcase his unique ability to transform hardship into growth, both for himself and others. Even in the darkest prison, Joseph was able to bring light.

Jacob knew of Joseph’s great potential, and especially as this related to fighting the side of evil which manifested through his own brother Eisav at the time. The spiritual battle that began between Jacob and Esau would continue through their descendants — and Joseph was chosen to confront that spiritual darkness.

The Torah’s focus on Joseph as “the offspring of Jacob” reinforces this deep spiritual alignment. It suggests that Joseph carried forward Jacob’s essence — particularly in confronting and overcoming challenges posed by the forces of evil and opposition, symbolized by Esau.

Joseph’s Spiritual Power — Ruach

When Pharaoh has his dream interpreted by Joseph, he declares:

“Will we find another man like this, someone who has the spirit of G-d within him?”

(Bereishit 41:38)

This “spirit of G-d” is called Ruach, which also translates as “wind.” The Sages teach that someone who is spiritually trapped is covered by “dust” — heaviness, sadness, confusion, temptation. Dust weighs a person down and clouds their vision.

Ruach — wind — blows away that dust.

Joseph represents the energy of the righteous person who removes this “dust,” lifting up those who have fallen spiritually, and helping them ascend even higher than before.

Joseph bequeathed this power to all future generations of Israel.

That is why Joseph is one of the few people in Jewish history called “HaTzaddik,” the Righteous One — because he is connected to every righteous individual who works to uplift others and bring them back to Hashem.

Joseph’s capacity to resist temptation, endure suffering, and remain steadfast in faith — even when he was all alone in a foreign culture — is emblematic of his role as a spiritual leader and a model for future generations.

Breaking the Old Patterns

This connects to another powerful biblical theme.

If we look throughout all the stories of the Bible from the beginning of Genesis until now, we see the recurring theme of sibling jealousy, rivalry, and quarreling:

• Cain and Abel

• Isaac and Ishmael

• Jacob and Esav

• Joseph and his brothers

At every stage, insecurity, jealousy, and misunderstanding threaten the future of the Jewish people. But Joseph was the first to break the cycle. He was able to forgive his brothers — even after they had sold him as a slave, torn away from his father and homeland.

Joseph’s breaking the pattern of sibling rivalry is quite profound.

His ability to forgive his brothers reflects a spiritual maturity and a rejection of the cyclical bitterness that had plagued earlier generations. His response was not revenge — but healing.

This act of forgiveness not only mended his family but also set a precedent for unity and reconciliation. It showed that the Jewish future must be built on compassion and peace — not conflict.

Lessons for Every Generation

There are so many deep lessons we can learn from this:

1. Divine Purpose in Suffering
   Joseph’s trials were not merely personal misfortunes but part of a divine plan to elevate him and prepare him for his role as a leader and savior. Sometimes the path to greatness goes through darkness — but with purpose.

2. Breaking Cycles
   Joseph teaches us that generational patterns of jealousy, anger, and resentment can be broken — and replaced with love and unity. Healing takes one courageous soul.
3. Uplifting Others
   Like Joseph, we have the power to help those weighed down by despair — to remove the dust, restore spirit, and elevate dignity — through kindness, encouragement, and faith.

By seeing Joseph’s story as part of a larger spiritual tapestry, we gain insight into the Torah’s message of resilience, unity, and the transformative power of righteousness.

It challenges us to emulate Joseph’s qualities in our own lives — to rise above pettiness and division, to see the deeper purpose behind life’s challenges, and to work instead to uplift those around us.

The Parashah asks us:

Can we be people who bring wind, not dust?

Can we be healers and rebuilders of unity?

Can we choose forgiveness over frustration?

May we all merit to embody the spirit of Yosef HaTzaddik — with strength, compassion, and unwavering faith.

Shabbat Shalom UMevorach! 🌟