The epic struggle between Yosef and his brothers is as perplexing as it is dramatic. Why does Yosef - the Tzadik! - seemingly "lord it" over his siblings, acting as if he is somehow better than they are, telling of dreams in which they submissively bow before him?
And, for their part, how could the builders of our nation, the tribes of G-d, dispose of Yosef in such a cold and calculating manner? What of justice, mercy, rachamim?
Who is right in this saga and who is wrong? Chazal wrestle mightily with the issue and conclude, in classic rabbinic style: both are right and both are wrong.
Yosef knows that each generation has its designated leader and he presumes that he must be it. After all, he is the son of Rachel, Yaakov's favorite wife; he is lovingly tutored by Yaakov; why, he even looks like Yaakov ("Eyleh toldot Yaakov - Yosef," says the pasuk, inferring that Yaakov and Yosef were lookalikes). So when Yaakov gives him the "Coat of Many Colors", Yosef assumes this is a clear sign that he will wear the robe of royalty and represent all the multi-colored shades of the nation.
Yosef's brothers see it another way. They know that in each generation, there tends to be a "bad apple". Yishmael was one, Esav was another. No matter that they had "royal blood", they were wild weeds that had to be plucked out for the good of Am Yisrael. They reasoned that Yosef was the pariah of their era, and so, he had to be purged.
Yosef and his brothers were so sure of their respective roles - opposed to one another as they were - that they seemed totally at ease with their actions. Yosef blithely reported to his family his dreams of domination; the brothers calmly sat down and ate after throwing Yosef into the pit.
In the end, both Yosef and his brothers err. The brothers should have recognized Yosef's desire for unity ("It is my brothers I seek," he says); Yosef should have had more respect for his older siblings ("Seek shlom achecha [the wholeness of your brothers]," Yaakov tells Yosef).
It will take the slavery in Egypt to unite the family once again, for when Jews are in danger, we renew our familial bonds and stand as one. As a direct result of this story, we were enslaved for 117 years (nine brothers sold Yosef, who was imprisoned for 13 years; 9x13=117).
The lesson is clear. Love and respect for our fellow Jew can mean all the difference between pit and perfection.
And, for their part, how could the builders of our nation, the tribes of G-d, dispose of Yosef in such a cold and calculating manner? What of justice, mercy, rachamim?
Who is right in this saga and who is wrong? Chazal wrestle mightily with the issue and conclude, in classic rabbinic style: both are right and both are wrong.
Yosef knows that each generation has its designated leader and he presumes that he must be it. After all, he is the son of Rachel, Yaakov's favorite wife; he is lovingly tutored by Yaakov; why, he even looks like Yaakov ("Eyleh toldot Yaakov - Yosef," says the pasuk, inferring that Yaakov and Yosef were lookalikes). So when Yaakov gives him the "Coat of Many Colors", Yosef assumes this is a clear sign that he will wear the robe of royalty and represent all the multi-colored shades of the nation.
Yosef's brothers see it another way. They know that in each generation, there tends to be a "bad apple". Yishmael was one, Esav was another. No matter that they had "royal blood", they were wild weeds that had to be plucked out for the good of Am Yisrael. They reasoned that Yosef was the pariah of their era, and so, he had to be purged.
Yosef and his brothers were so sure of their respective roles - opposed to one another as they were - that they seemed totally at ease with their actions. Yosef blithely reported to his family his dreams of domination; the brothers calmly sat down and ate after throwing Yosef into the pit.
In the end, both Yosef and his brothers err. The brothers should have recognized Yosef's desire for unity ("It is my brothers I seek," he says); Yosef should have had more respect for his older siblings ("Seek shlom achecha [the wholeness of your brothers]," Yaakov tells Yosef).
It will take the slavery in Egypt to unite the family once again, for when Jews are in danger, we renew our familial bonds and stand as one. As a direct result of this story, we were enslaved for 117 years (nine brothers sold Yosef, who was imprisoned for 13 years; 9x13=117).
The lesson is clear. Love and respect for our fellow Jew can mean all the difference between pit and perfection.