Sedra of the Week: Miketz
This week's Torah portion is delivered by Rabbi Jonny Roodyn, educational director at Jewish Futures Trust
Joseph, the abandoned, kidnapped slave-turned-prisoner finally gets his big break. Hauled out of the dungeon, he is brought in front of Pharaoh and vaunted as the one who will be able to solve the mystery of Pharaoh’s perplexing and mysterious dreams.
The pressure on him was immense. If he gets it right, he earns his freedom, but if he misses the mark, he will be consigned to life imprisonment. It is not just his reputation that is on the line here, his whole life hangs in the balance.
When Pharaoh comments that he has heard of Joseph’s reputation as a wise man and dream interpreter, Joseph says something truly remarkable. ‘This is nothing to do with me, it is God who will respond with Pharaoh’s welfare’ (Bereishit 41:16).
Joseph refuses to take the credit for anything he has done or anything he is about to do. This shocking statement could have landed him back in prison for insolence. Pharaoh has just complimented him on his talents and reputation and Joseph throws it back in his face!
Joseph, the tzaddik, righteous one teaches us a crucial life lesson. No matter who we are and what we stand to gain (or lose), our talents are not our own. They are given to us as a gift by the Almighty for a purpose.
Someone who is naturally intelligent, handsome, musical, artistic or athletic may think that they are in some way superior to others. This could not be further from the truth. We have done nothing to earn our natural talents, we cannot take the glory for them ourselves.
Joseph realises that even though his future depends on what he is about to do, he will be true to himself and true to his God. He uses his talents to the best of his ability, he successfully solves the mystery of the dreams and suggests a fiscal policy that will enable Egypt to survive the famine.
He becomes second in command to Pharaoh himself, but never forgets that his abilities are a God-given gift for him to use to help others.
Rabbi Jonny Roodyn is educational director at Jewish Futures Trust
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
