[Parsha Perspectives] Parshas Vayeishev: The Portraits on the Wall
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Rabbi Leib Irons
Dec 18, 2008, 3:16:46 PM12/18/08
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"And it came to pass, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. And it came to pass on a certain day, when he went into the house to do his work, and there was none of the men of the house there within, that she caught him by his garment, saying: 'Lie with me.' And he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out." -Genesis 10:12
"TO DO HIS WORK: Joseph had planned on lying with his master’s wife, but his father's image appeared to him... Joseph therefore abstained from sinning. As a reward he merited getting the letter “hey” from G-d's name added to his own name. -Talmud Sota 36b
In the heat of the moment, just a split second before Joseph would have mired his eternal destiny, Jacob's visage jolted him into repentance. Let's think about this for a second. Surely this was a great accomplishment, but at the end of the day, Jacob appeared to Joseph to stop him. Why did Joseph receive such a great reward, if he had such a clear revelation which pulled the brakes on his raging urge?
To understand the significance of Joseph’s actions, we must first appreciate the backdrop of this incident. Joseph was a young lad who was the apple of his father’s eye. He studied with his father and received more than his eleven brothers received. One day however that entire picture changed. Betrayed by his brothers, he was sold into slavery. He was sold from one group to another until he was finally sold to Potiphar in Egypt. At that point most people would have thrown all of their traditions away. He saw that his brother’s faith did not prevent them from committing this act against him. Nobody sought him out. He had no future left to his name. Alas, his master saw things differently. Joseph quickly rose to the position of chief of staff in Potiphar’s estate. He created a new identity for himself. He was so beloved that eventually his master gave his own daughter to Joseph for marriage. His new future and identity was secure. He was exceptionally handsome, and his own master’s wife constantly attempted to seduce him. He was set for life.
Right before Joseph nearly yielded to his desires to sin with his master’s wife, he gave his past one last thought. He realized that although he was no longer living the life of his past and of his parents, this act would sever whatever connection was left. But he also realized that his past was more or less obsolete. He entered the house for the purpose of sinning, and then something amazing occurred. He glanced at the (mental) picture of Jacob on the wall. His mind began to twirl. True, his current life had very little to do with the person in the frame, but that person represented something that seemed much greater than his present reality. Jacob represented the ultimate truth and purpose of life. Joseph had a split second to reconsider. He looked at Potiphar’s wife, and he looked at his mental image of Jacob. Potiphar’s wife pulled him towards a temporal and fleeting moment of pleasure, and Jacob pulled him towards the ultimate truth.
At that moment, there was no reason for Joseph to stop his urges. That picture from the past had no more relevance. But Joseph was jolted into submission. He chose his past which represented the truth over his present and future which represented pleasure. That was a choice never made before in history. Many people had that picture on the wall, but Joseph dusted off that picture and updated it to make it relevant again in his new reality.
The Talmud informs us that Joseph's act of controlling his passions will be used in the Heavenly Court as a case against the wicked who don't control their desires. The Sfas Emes explains that although Joseph was always righteous, his act of control paved the way for all Jews to overcome their earthly desires. How so? Because Joseph made the case for all of us that the photo’s of our ancestors hanging on our walls and on our hearts still have relevance in today’s day and age. He showed us that the pursuit of the ultimate truth is more important that the greatest pleasures which exist. Joseph’s realization was totally unexpected. Such an act of sacrifice on his part is blessed with no less that an addition of a letter from G-d’s name.
May we all merit to look at the pictures on our walls, and to try to put that letter from G-d’s name into our own.
--
Posted By Rabbi Leib Irons to Parsha Perspectives at 12/11/2008 04:07:00 PM
"TO DO HIS WORK: Joseph had planned on lying with his master’s wife, but his father's image appeared to him... Joseph therefore abstained from sinning. As a reward he merited getting the letter “hey” from G-d's name added to his own name. -Talmud Sota 36b
In the heat of the moment, just a split second before Joseph would have mired his eternal destiny, Jacob's visage jolted him into repentance. Let's think about this for a second. Surely this was a great accomplishment, but at the end of the day, Jacob appeared to Joseph to stop him. Why did Joseph receive such a great reward, if he had such a clear revelation which pulled the brakes on his raging urge?
To understand the significance of Joseph’s actions, we must first appreciate the backdrop of this incident. Joseph was a young lad who was the apple of his father’s eye. He studied with his father and received more than his eleven brothers received. One day however that entire picture changed. Betrayed by his brothers, he was sold into slavery. He was sold from one group to another until he was finally sold to Potiphar in Egypt. At that point most people would have thrown all of their traditions away. He saw that his brother’s faith did not prevent them from committing this act against him. Nobody sought him out. He had no future left to his name. Alas, his master saw things differently. Joseph quickly rose to the position of chief of staff in Potiphar’s estate. He created a new identity for himself. He was so beloved that eventually his master gave his own daughter to Joseph for marriage. His new future and identity was secure. He was exceptionally handsome, and his own master’s wife constantly attempted to seduce him. He was set for life.
Right before Joseph nearly yielded to his desires to sin with his master’s wife, he gave his past one last thought. He realized that although he was no longer living the life of his past and of his parents, this act would sever whatever connection was left. But he also realized that his past was more or less obsolete. He entered the house for the purpose of sinning, and then something amazing occurred. He glanced at the (mental) picture of Jacob on the wall. His mind began to twirl. True, his current life had very little to do with the person in the frame, but that person represented something that seemed much greater than his present reality. Jacob represented the ultimate truth and purpose of life. Joseph had a split second to reconsider. He looked at Potiphar’s wife, and he looked at his mental image of Jacob. Potiphar’s wife pulled him towards a temporal and fleeting moment of pleasure, and Jacob pulled him towards the ultimate truth.
At that moment, there was no reason for Joseph to stop his urges. That picture from the past had no more relevance. But Joseph was jolted into submission. He chose his past which represented the truth over his present and future which represented pleasure. That was a choice never made before in history. Many people had that picture on the wall, but Joseph dusted off that picture and updated it to make it relevant again in his new reality.
The Talmud informs us that Joseph's act of controlling his passions will be used in the Heavenly Court as a case against the wicked who don't control their desires. The Sfas Emes explains that although Joseph was always righteous, his act of control paved the way for all Jews to overcome their earthly desires. How so? Because Joseph made the case for all of us that the photo’s of our ancestors hanging on our walls and on our hearts still have relevance in today’s day and age. He showed us that the pursuit of the ultimate truth is more important that the greatest pleasures which exist. Joseph’s realization was totally unexpected. Such an act of sacrifice on his part is blessed with no less that an addition of a letter from G-d’s name.
May we all merit to look at the pictures on our walls, and to try to put that letter from G-d’s name into our own.
--
Posted By Rabbi Leib Irons to Parsha Perspectives at 12/11/2008 04:07:00 PM
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