In the story about Joseph and his brothers, we have to focus on Genesis 37:23-25. There we read, “When Joseph came up to his brothers, they stripped Joseph of the ornamented tunic (the coat of many colors) that he was wearing, and took him and cast him into the pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.” And, what do the brothers do next? We read, “Then [his brothers] sat down to a meal.” That they got hungry and satisfied themselves after leaving Joseph for dead in a pit (there wasn’t even any water) only highlights the severity of the sibling rivalry between them.
I’ve often taught that every time the Israelites “sit” as the brothers did, something terrible has just happened or will happen. Other citations exist in the Hebrew Bible. Isn’t it interesting then that subsequent images of the Jewish people show them dancing, as in Chasidic portrayals, or bowing/swaying, as in worship or study. Kinetic rather than potential energy might be a useful analogy to explain the Jewish outlook. As partners with God in a covenantal relationship, Jews embrace what is, and participate in the creation of what ought to be.
In 1948, when the State of Israel was born, the land was hardly flowing with milk and honey as the Torah described it. They brought water to the dry land and turned the desert into fruitful fields. Only 60 years later, the economy of Israel is much more than fruits and souvenirs. It’s a leader in the latest in medicine and technology. Israel is a competitor in the world market and a stable democracy in a region of instability and insecurity.
Nevertheless, they are also brothers to their Arab neighbors. As the descendants of Abraham, it is unacceptable to sit, as did Joseph’s brothers, and eat and satisfy themselves while their brothers struggle. There’s no doubt that Israel could thrive on the tension they have grown accustomed to in the region and secure their borders as long as they must, but it’s not a durable solution nor a sustainable posture between brothers, geographic or historic. From a Jewish point of view, the recent Annapolis Conference demonstrates the Jewish outlook to do rather than to sit. The Bush administration sees the Conference as a contribution to the region’s welfare, and as part of the President’s legacy to participate in what they hope will be a lasting peace. Whatever the outcome, the kinetic energy expended at the Conference will serve a greater purpose than the potential energy that stored up hostility and anxiety. The talks are supposed to continue, but as heads of state here and there change so will the opportunity for new and sustained dialogues. Lasting peace is the hope; that’s what connects us to tomorrow.
In the Torah portion, the outcome of the Joseph story ultimately leads to the reunification of the brothers. It is a complicated and difficult story. There are many lessons to glean from it. Perhaps the outcome of our challenging story will lead to some form of reunification, too, and the lessons to be learned will be part of stories we will tell, with God’s help, to the next generation.
As Chanukah begins on the evening of December 4th, let’s recall the Prophet Zechariah who spoke of the source of Israel’s real strength, “Not by might, not by power, but by My spirit, alone, says the Lord your God.”
From my desk to yours, Shabbat Shalom.
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