SEDRA VAYESHEV DECEMBER 2011 “ I have a dream!”
This week’s Sedra contains the well known story involving Joseph-
The coat of many colours, Joseph’s dreams, Jacob’s favouritism of his then youngest son. Jealousy and anger of his brothers, Joseph in the pit and his sale to the Midianites/ Ishmaelites. Joseph’s service in the household of Potiphar. False accusations and imprisonment. Intepretation of the Chief Butler and Baker’s dreams.
Some weeks ago I was asked if I would concentrate on the end of a Sedra instead of reviewing the beginning as I have done recently. Therefore this week I want to look at the end of our Sedra and concentrate on the two dreams of the Butler and Baker, of the Sar Hamashkim and the Sar Haofim.
However before that, let us look at some dreams elsewhere in this Sedra and the next.
It is interesting to note that Joseph’s two dreams are different in context.
Dream one concerns the earth “behold we were binding sheaves in the middle of a field”
Dream two is about the heavens “the sun and the moon and eleven stars”
Looking at Pharoah’s two dreams they have an earthly symbolism, diminishing in the domain of living things from “seven cows” to “seven ears of corn”. In Pharoah’s dreams there is no link with heaven, regressing as they do unlike Joseph’s dreams which ascend in holiness, towards the heavens.
Joseph’s dreams are about two worlds, earth and heaven with one single meaning.
They contain a lesson into how every Jew must live his daily life. He must involve
himself daily in the fusion of the material and the spiritual, the material contributing to his spiritual life, elevating it in spirituality. Physical acts as eating and drinking are then directed towards G-d and become holy.
Rav Kook discusses the phenomenon of interpreting dreams. The Talmud (Berachos 55b) states “Dreams are fulfilled according to the interpretation”. He points out that the interpreter has a key function in the realisation of a dream; his analysis can determine how a dream will come to pass. The Talmud confirms this view with the proof of the words of the Chief wine Butler “Just as he interpreted, so (my dream) came to be”. (Miketz 41:13).
Rav Kook maintains that the true power of a dream is only realised once it has been interpreted. This act of interpretation intensifies the dream’s impact. As again we find in the same tractate of Talmud “A dream not interpreted is like a letter left unread”. When a dream is explained and its images become more intense and vivid, the impact on the soul is stronger.
Joseph’s role in being the vehicle through which the dreams of the Chief wine Butler and the Chief Baker and later of Pharoah himself, were interpreted was crucial to understanding the role that G-d himself played in the unravelling of the dreams.
An interpreter had to be insightful and perceptive, penetrating the inner message of the dream and detecting the potential influences of the soul’s inner qualities that are reflected in the dream.
Joseph had all these qualities which were granted to him by G-d. Indeed Joseph acknowledges that his ability to interpret dreams comes directly from G-d.
Vayomer Aleyhem Yosef, Halo Leylohim Pisronim Sapru- No Li.” Yosef replied to them “Do not all interpretations belong to G-d”.(Vayeshev 40:8)
Later in next week’s Sedra Miketz we find Joseph telling Paharoah “It is not with me!. May G-d provide an answer that will mean the peace of Pharoah”.
In times long ago dreams were often regarded as insights into what the future held.
In ancient Greece temples were constructed were sick people were sent to be cured. It was believed that sickness could be cured through dreams incubated within the confines of the temple. In ancient Egypt, priests also acted as dream interpreters where dreams were considered prophetic or omens of particular significance.
Dream interpretation was taken up as part of psychoanalysis at the end of the 19th century, the major seminal works on the subject being “The Interpretation of Dreams” by Sigmund Freud.
We know that Joseph and Daniel are recorded as having interpreted dreams sent from
G-d. In the book of Joel one of the minor prophets we find that Hashem says “ I will pour out My spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and daughters shall prophecy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions” Joel summons the people and after a penitential fast tells them than G-d is going to bring back prosperity and abundance and he continues to describe the future glory of Judea.
Rambam/Maimonidies in “Moreh Nevuchim” Guide To The Perplexed- wrote that dreams are a medium through which G-d communicates with human beings.
Now let me deal as promised with end of the Sedra. The manner in which Joseph answers the Chief wine Butler and the Chief Baker.
The way and manner that Joseph interprets the dreams of his two fellow prisoners in the Egyptian prison gives us an insight into how to deal with a dilemma that can face us any time- that of how to impart bad news to someone.
In the case of the Chief wine Butler, as soon as Joseph had completed the interpretation of his dream he eagerly offered his message of good news “And Yosef said to him “this is its interpretation” without waiting for the Chief Wine Butler to ask its meaning.
In respect of the Chief Baker Joseph knew that the news he had to tell him was not good. He waited for the Chief Butler to press him for the meaning “And Yosef answered him and said “this is its meaning”. Joseph waited for a request for information before he gave it.
Further examples:- Lech Lecha and the Akeda, . - Wife and car accident etc breaking news to husband. Visiting a shiva house- menacham aval, do not speak first.
We have always to be aware and sensitive of the feelings of others
May we always hear good news. Shabbat Shalom from me and TTFN
Chanuka Sameach to you all.
