In Pirkei Avot (The Wisdom of the Sages – First Century Palestine), Ben Zoma asks, “Who is rich?” and he answers, “The one who is happy with what he has.”
Contentment and satisfaction with one’s lot are the keys to happiness, and this week’s Torah portion teaches us the high price of jealousy and resentment.
Joseph is Jacob’s favorite son. Jacob’s brothers are jealous and resentful because of heir father’s special treatment of Joseph, so they sell their youngest brother into slavery. Think about the level of hatred one must have to want to destroy your sibling’s life.
In this week’s parsha, special treatment and jealousy destroy a family, banish a brother and break a father’s heart. Resentment is corrosive, as it has been said, “Resentment is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies.” Happiness, on the other hand, comes from the ability to accept one’s situation.
We can’t control other people’s feelings, but we can control how we react. The choice is ours.
Vayeshev – Genesis 37:1 – 40:23 – Parshat Ha Shavua for Shabbat, Saturday, December 21, 2019
December 20, 2019 by Dean Kertesz •
In Pirkei Avot (The Wisdom of the Sages – First Century Palestine), Ben Zoma asks, “Who is rich?” and he answers, “The one who is happy with what he has.”
Contentment and satisfaction with one’s lot are the keys to happiness, and this week’s Torah portion teaches us the high price of jealousy and resentment.
Joseph is Jacob’s favorite son. Jacob’s brothers are jealous and resentful because of heir father’s special treatment of Joseph, so they sell their youngest brother into slavery. Think about the level of hatred one must have to want to destroy your sibling’s life.
In this week’s parsha, special treatment and jealousy destroy a family, banish a brother and break a father’s heart. Resentment is corrosive, as it has been said, “Resentment is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies.” Happiness, on the other hand, comes from the ability to accept one’s situation.
We can’t control other people’s feelings, but we can control how we react. The choice is ours.