The Amida, or standing prayer, also called Ha Tefillah (The Prayer) in our siddur, Mishkan Tefila, ends with with a prayer attributed to the Fourth Century sage, Mar of Ravina, It begins with these words, “My God, Guard my tongue from evil and my lips from deception. Before those who slander me, I will hold my tongue. I will practice humility. The word-for-word translation of that last line is, “And let my soul be like the dust to all I meet.” The saga of Joseph begins in this week’s Torah portion, Yayseshev, and forms the final part of the Book of Genesis. In this story, Joseph will be sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. He will suffer humiliation and imprisonment, but will ultimately rise to become second in power only to Pharaoh and be in a position to be reconciled with his brothers and save his family. The saga of the Jewish people begins in Joseph’s story. But, before all this plays out, Jacob sends Joseph out to find his brothers and report back on how they and their flocks are doing. On the way Joseph becomes lost. Our Torah portion continues, ‘a man came upon him wandering in the fields. The man asked him, ‘What are you looking for?’ He [Joseph] answered, ‘I am looking for my brothers. Could you tell me where they are pasturing?’ The man said, ’They have gone from here, for I heard them say: Let us go to Dothan.’ So Joseph followed his brothers and found them at Dothan.” (Genesis 37:15-17) Rashi (12th C Germany) says that this stranger was the angel Gavriel, which means God is my strength. Nahmanides (Ramban 14th C. Spain) says further “this ‘man’ was sent by God to guide Joseph on his way.” Without his help, Joseph would never have reached his brothers and who knows how the story, our Jewish story, would have turned out. We never know when someone important crosses our path or when a word or two someone says will change our lives. There is a traditional belief that Elijah the Prophet, the harbinger of the Messiah, always disguises himself as a poor beggar. Those who treat him with kindness and respect hasten the coming of the Messiah, while those who treat him with disdain (a common reaction to the homeless, the mentally ill and beggars) prolong our wait for redemption. Imagine, if we all had the humility to be “like dust” to everyone we met. With true humility, openness and curiosity could we transform our world for the better?
Vayeshev, Genesis 37:1-40:23, Parshat Hashavua for Shabbat, December 10, 2022
December 18, 2022 by Dean Kertesz • Drashot
The Amida, or standing prayer, also called Ha Tefillah (The Prayer) in our siddur, Mishkan Tefila, ends with with a prayer attributed to the Fourth Century sage, Mar of Ravina, It begins with these words, “My God, Guard my tongue from evil and my lips from deception. Before those who slander me, I will hold my tongue. I will practice humility. The word-for-word translation of that last line is, “And let my soul be like the dust to all I meet.” The saga of Joseph begins in this week’s Torah portion, Yayseshev, and forms the final part of the Book of Genesis. In this story, Joseph will be sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. He will suffer humiliation and imprisonment, but will ultimately rise to become second in power only to Pharaoh and be in a position to be reconciled with his brothers and save his family. The saga of the Jewish people begins in Joseph’s story. But, before all this plays out, Jacob sends Joseph out to find his brothers and report back on how they and their flocks are doing. On the way Joseph becomes lost. Our Torah portion continues, ‘a man came upon him wandering in the fields. The man asked him, ‘What are you looking for?’ He [Joseph] answered, ‘I am looking for my brothers. Could you tell me where they are pasturing?’ The man said, ’They have gone from here, for I heard them say: Let us go to Dothan.’ So Joseph followed his brothers and found them at Dothan.” (Genesis 37:15-17) Rashi (12th C Germany) says that this stranger was the angel Gavriel, which means God is my strength. Nahmanides (Ramban 14th C. Spain) says further “this ‘man’ was sent by God to guide Joseph on his way.” Without his help, Joseph would never have reached his brothers and who knows how the story, our Jewish story, would have turned out. We never know when someone important crosses our path or when a word or two someone says will change our lives. There is a traditional belief that Elijah the Prophet, the harbinger of the Messiah, always disguises himself as a poor beggar. Those who treat him with kindness and respect hasten the coming of the Messiah, while those who treat him with disdain (a common reaction to the homeless, the mentally ill and beggars) prolong our wait for redemption. Imagine, if we all had the humility to be “like dust” to everyone we met. With true humility, openness and curiosity could we transform our world for the better?