(12/6/20; 20 Kislev 5781)
We traditionally refer to ourselves as “Ahm Yisra’el” the people of Israel or Bnai Yisra’el, the children of Israel --- or simply “Israel”. And, of course, that’s the name of our congregation as well: “Temple Israel.” Israel, as we know, is the name given to Jacob by God after he wrestles with the angel in Genesis chapter 32. There the angel declares: “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but rather Israel” (Hebrew: “Yisra’el”) – “ki sarita im Elohim v’im anashim v’tuchal” / “for you have striven with beings divine and human and prevailed.”[1]
This idea of striving, struggling, wrestling with issues both philosophical and practical is indeed an important characteristic of Jewish life.
However, during this time of year when our Torah reading cycle features the story of Joseph, I often feel that Ahm Yosef (the People of Joseph”) might be an even better name for us. The Torah teaches that various patriarchs and matriarchs prior to Joseph experience God directly and explicitly. Indeed the same claim is made for Adam and Eve and Noah before them. God speaks to them and appears to them directly.
Joseph, on the other hand, is more like us. God never addresses him directly. And yet, Joseph models for us the religious behavior of a much later age: He doesn’t experience direct, unmediated revelation. Yet he understands that God’s presence is reflected in the vicissitudes of his life. In this week’s Torah portion, Vayeshev, he tells Pharaoh’s wine steward and baker, who are imprisoned with him in Pharoah’s dungeon jail , that it is God who gives us the ability to interpret dreams.[2] In next week’s Torah portion, Miketz, when he interprets Pharaoh’s dreams he insists again, even more forcefully, that the dreams and the interpretations ultimately come from God.[3] And when, in the following week’s Torah portion, Vayigash, he and his brothers are finally reunited, Joseph forgives them for having sold him into slavery, asserting: that it was ultimately God who sent him ahead of them to Egypt in order to be able to save lives.
So to with our lives: We each have our ups and downs, our joys and our heartbreaks, and it’s easy to succumb to despair at the seeming meaningless and randomness of it all. But, following the lead of Yosef Ha-Tzadik (“Joseph the Righteous”), our Jewish tradition teaches us to look for God’s presence, to look for meaning, to look for a bigger picture.
When in our Temple’s mission statement we see that Temple Israel is to be center for Jewish life, that’s an important part of that mission --- providing opportunities – through worship, study, social action and communal camaraderie, to experience the Divine that infuses the everyday.
This year, all of this been unusually challenging. The pandemic has had isolating effects on us.At times, it can seem like we, not unlike Joseph in this week’s parashah, have been dispateched into a pit or dungeon-like jail. But we have all been making our best efforts to stay connected even when so many of our regular avenues for doing so have been disrupted. God willing, in a few more months this strange interlude will be behind us. In the meantime, let’s all stay safe as we convey our thanks and best wishes to our board members --- both those stepping off the board today and those who are continuing or beginning their terms in office.
[1] Genesis 32:29
[2] See Genesis 40:8
[3] Genesis 41:16
