Judaism: Rabbi Kook on Vayeshev: The Nature of Exile
Published: Thursday, November 29, 2007 3:53 PM
Joseph's pit is a metaphor for Galut, for exile.
Rabbi Chanan Morrison
Rabbi Chanan Morrison, of Mitzpeh Yericho, runs ravkooktorah.org, a website dedicated to presenting the Torah commentary of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook, first Chief Rabbi of Eretz Yisrael, to the English-speaking community. He is also the author of "Gold from the Land of Israel"."They took Joseph and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty, without water in it." (Genesis 37:24)
When the brothers threw Joseph into the pit, the exile began. Not just Joseph's personal 
Some mistake the pit of Exile for a well of water.
exile from his father's house and the land of Israel. From that dark, empty pit began the exile of the entire Jewish people to Egypt.
Some mistake the pit of Exile for a well of water.
exile from his father's house and the land of Israel. From that dark, empty pit began the exile of the entire Jewish people to Egypt. In fact, Joseph's pit is a metaphor for Galut, for each exile of the Jewish people from their land.
Three Types of Pits
There are, of course, different kinds of pits. There are pits filled with water, wells that provide life to those living near them. One must be careful not to fall in and drown, but these are productive, useful pits.
Then there are empty pits. They serve no purpose and are dangerous. Nonetheless, even empty pits have a positive side to them. With energy and skill, they may be filled with water and transformed into useful pits.
And there is a third type of pit. Rabbi Tanchum explained that Joseph's pit belonged to this third category. It was empty of water, but it contained other things - snakes and scorpions. Such a pit is of no use - neither actual nor potential - for humans.
Some mistake the pit of Exile for a well of water. Yes, one must be careful not to drown in it; but overall, they claim, it is a positive experience. If Jews are careful to act in a manner that will not arouse anti-Semitism, then they can dwell comfortably in their foreign homes.
But the true nature of Exile is like Joseph's pit, full of snakes and scorpions. It is a dangerous and deadly place for the Jewish people. Such a pit has only one redeeming value, intrinsic to its very nature: it will never mislead the Jews into mistaking it for their permanent homeland.
Snakes and Scorpions
What is the difference between a snake and a scorpion? A snake bites with its head, while a scorpion stings with its tail. The snakebite is a planned and intentional act, executed by the directives of the snake's brain. A scorpion stings from its tail, naturally, instinctively and without thought.
Exile is accompanied by both of these 'blessings.' There are times of intentional and malevolent persecution, such as those perpetrated by the Crusaders, Chmielnicki's 
Cultural dissonance, intermarriage and assimilation take their slow, unintended toll.
Cossacks, Nazi Germany, and other sinister snakes of history. These are dark hours for the Jewish people, but they are also times of shining heroism and self- sacrifice.
Cultural dissonance, intermarriage and assimilation take their slow, unintended toll.
Cossacks, Nazi Germany, and other sinister snakes of history. These are dark hours for the Jewish people, but they are also times of shining heroism and self- sacrifice. Worse than these intentional snakebites are the continual, unintentional scorpion stings that are a natural part of Exile. Cultural dissonance, intermarriage and assimilation take their slow, unintended toll on the Jewish people and their connection to the Torah.
The afflictions of Exile are by Heavenly decree, lest we confuse a temporary resting place in the Diaspora for a permanent home for the Jewish people. The only true remedy for these snakebites and scorpion-stings is to rescue the nation from the pit, and restore them to their proper homeland.
[Adapted from Ein Ayah vol. III, pp. 67-8]