Fortunate Son
Va-yeshev, this week’s parasha, begins a shift in focus to
Joseph, son of Jacob and Rachel. Joseph was the favorite of Jacob, which
angered his brothers who began to plot against him. This jealousy led them to
sell him into slavery, eventually leading him to Egypt
and the home of Potiphar, chief steward of Pharaoh. Potiphar’s wife falsely
accuses Joseph of rape after he would not submit to her advances. The parasha
closes out with Joseph in prison for this accusation.
Joseph was
a good man. He is even known by some as Josef l’Tzaddik (Joseph the Righteous).
But as many of us know bad things can still happen to good people. Joseph’s
perils came about by being the favored son of his father and other’s envy just
as we, Hashem’s Chosen People, have faced. Most recently, this is being seen in
the fight our Israeli brothers and sisters face daily. Life is tough sometimes,
but we should recall that “no weapon formed against you shall succeed” (Isaiah
54:17).
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