Torah Portion Vayeshev (Lived) Genesis 37:1-40:23 - By Daniel Gwertzman

This Torah Portion takes place when Jacob lived in the Land of Canaan and records the generations of Jacob. It starts when Joseph is 17 years of age. In this week's Torah reading, we meet Joseph as a dreamer and an interpreter of dreams. Was Joseph a prophet? The answer is surprising, but he was not. So, how could he interpret dreams? What Joseph possessed was Ruach Hakodesh (Divine Inspiration), which can even occur in exile. While Jacob was a Prophet and spoke with God, true prophecy would only return with Moses. Exile is referred to as a dream.

"When the Lord brought back the captive ones of Zion, We were like those who dream." (Psalms 126:1)

The Rabbinic tradition interprets this verse as referring to the exile in Babylon being like a dream. What this means is that, in a dream, one is passive and cannot control one’s circumstances. In the Diaspora, Jews did not control the government, the police force or any national institution, and were at the mercy of the nations they dwelt in.

When Jacob hears Joseph's second dream in which the sun, moon, and stars are bowing to him, he receives his rebuke. However, the Bible tells us even though his brothers were jealous of Joseph, his father kept this saying in mind.

When Jacob sent Joseph to Shechem to report on the welfare of his brothers and the flock they plotted against him. Joseph found them at Dothan. Joseph is thrown into a pit by his brothers, subsequently sold to Ishmaelites, and brought to Egypt. He is sold to Potiphar, Pharaoh's Officer, the Captain of the Bodyguard, and unjustly accused of attempting to rape his wife. Wherever he is, he is given responsibility and proves himself as highly capable.

He is put in charge of two prisoners in the prison, Pharaoh's Butler and his Baker. He correctly interprets their dreams. The cup bearer (Butler) will be released in three days, and the Baker will be hanged in three days. Joseph had asked the butler to remember him and mention him to Pharaoh to have him released from prison. However, the Butler did not remember Joseph but forgot him.

Joseph in Hebrew has the numerical value of 156, which is the same as the Hebrew word "Zion". He represents all the visionaries, who through their clarity, were able to accomplish the rebuilding of Israel. A leader without vision cannot lead the Jewish People forward to the goal of making Zion a Light unto the Nations.