Parashat Vayeshev
Rabbi’s Drosh
In this week’s Parasha we read about Yosef (Joseph) being sold into slavery and taken down to Egypt by a Yishmalite caravan. Interestingly the caravan is carrying sweet-smelling spices, which was highly unusual. Rashi explains that Arab traders at this time would normally be transporting foul smelling substances, such as kerosene and tar, but for Yosef’s sake they were carrying sweet fragrances.
We learn from this that even at this dark moment for Yosef, Hashem wanted him to have some comfort. One might ask, if you are being sold into slavery, then who cares if there is a pleasant smell!?
There are three answers.
Firstly, Hashem cares! We all have suffering we need to go through in our lives in order to journey to the places we need to go, to learn the lessons we need to learn, to achieve the character refinement we need to achieve. However if we look at our challenges closely, we will see that Hashem always puts some sweet-smelling spices there to ease our difficult journey.
Secondly, Yosef cares! Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz explains that the spices were a reminder to Yosef that Hashem had not abandoned him.
Thirdly, we (as the readers or students of the Torah) should care! The detail about the spices is there to teach us that Hashem is ALWAYS with us!
We read in Psalm 118 in the Hallel, “Hashem is with me through my helpers“. For me personally, I find that the sweetest spices in times of suffering are usually the people who I am blessed to have with me as I face tough times - my wife and children, family and friends, inspiring colleagues or professionals, sometimes even a stranger. All of these people are reminders that Hashem is with me.
As we start to light the Channukah candles this Sunday, it is a similar reminder - like the spices - that there is always light in the darkness. Ultimately the light will always prevail.
Shabbat Shalom and Channukah Sameach,
Rabbi Friedler
Joseph and his Dreams
Take a look at the different types of dreams in the Torah and what they teach us. Then have a closer look at Joseph's relationship with his brothers and the impact of his dreams.