Two years have elapsed since Yosef interpreted the wine steward's dream and said, "remember me" and "mention me." Nevertheless, he was forgotten. Some commentators see this as a punishment for his lack of faith in Hashem's salvation. Others say that one is required to try to save oneself through natural means rather than rely on miracles.
The Netivot Sholom points out a contradiction in Midrash Rabba, which quotes Tehillim: "Praiseworthy is the man who has made Hashem his trust, and turned not to the arrogant." The Midrash understands the first part of the verse as referring to Yosef, the paradigm of bitachon in Hashem.Yet, the second part also refers to Yosef, who requested human aid and was therefore imprisoned for two additional years.
The Slonimer explains that the contradiction is itself the answer. Only a Yosef, who had exemplary trust in Hashem, could be faulted for seeking human help. He quotes another Midrash connecting the word "miketz" in our parasha to what is stated in Iyov (Job): "Ketz sam lachoshekh...." - "He has set a limit to the darkness...." The darkness of Yosef's imprisonment had a ketz, a predestined end. There is a set time schedule for all of world history, but had Yosef placed his total trust in Hashem, he could have changed his predetermined fate.
The Slonimer connects this to the Chashmonaim, whose trust in Hashem resulted in the Chanukah victory. On the other hand, Israel began to fall into the hands of Edom (Rome) when the Chashmonaim began to put their faith in them. The miracles of Chanukah were encased in natural wrappings, but were, in essence, miraculous. Bitachon brings those miracles into history and allows us to recognize the miraculous wrapped in the natural.
Modern Israeli history is replete with miracles, some "natural", others inexplicably miraculous. We have seen military victories, the amazing transformation from desolation into a bustling, modern and prosperous country, and Israel's establishment as the world's Torah center. We have seen the miracle of Jewish aliyah from behind the Iron Curtain and anticipate the aliyah from behind the Golden Curtain.
Yet, we are still tempted to put our trust in human beings, both in and outside Eretz Yisrael, and to question the miraculous nature of our history. We must remember that everything comes from Hashem, the only source of bitachon that we can be sure of.
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Chaya Passow, of Jerusalem, was a Jewish studies teacher and lecturer in the United States. She and her husband Eli, and son Eliezer made aliyah in August 2002. Presently, she teaches English in Yerushalayim and continues to give classes and shi'urim.
The Netivot Sholom points out a contradiction in Midrash Rabba, which quotes Tehillim: "Praiseworthy is the man who has made Hashem his trust, and turned not to the arrogant." The Midrash understands the first part of the verse as referring to Yosef, the paradigm of bitachon in Hashem.Yet, the second part also refers to Yosef, who requested human aid and was therefore imprisoned for two additional years.
The Slonimer explains that the contradiction is itself the answer. Only a Yosef, who had exemplary trust in Hashem, could be faulted for seeking human help. He quotes another Midrash connecting the word "miketz" in our parasha to what is stated in Iyov (Job): "Ketz sam lachoshekh...." - "He has set a limit to the darkness...." The darkness of Yosef's imprisonment had a ketz, a predestined end. There is a set time schedule for all of world history, but had Yosef placed his total trust in Hashem, he could have changed his predetermined fate.
The Slonimer connects this to the Chashmonaim, whose trust in Hashem resulted in the Chanukah victory. On the other hand, Israel began to fall into the hands of Edom (Rome) when the Chashmonaim began to put their faith in them. The miracles of Chanukah were encased in natural wrappings, but were, in essence, miraculous. Bitachon brings those miracles into history and allows us to recognize the miraculous wrapped in the natural.
Modern Israeli history is replete with miracles, some "natural", others inexplicably miraculous. We have seen military victories, the amazing transformation from desolation into a bustling, modern and prosperous country, and Israel's establishment as the world's Torah center. We have seen the miracle of Jewish aliyah from behind the Iron Curtain and anticipate the aliyah from behind the Golden Curtain.
Yet, we are still tempted to put our trust in human beings, both in and outside Eretz Yisrael, and to question the miraculous nature of our history. We must remember that everything comes from Hashem, the only source of bitachon that we can be sure of.
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Chaya Passow, of Jerusalem, was a Jewish studies teacher and lecturer in the United States. She and her husband Eli, and son Eliezer made aliyah in August 2002. Presently, she teaches English in Yerushalayim and continues to give classes and shi'urim.