Shabbat Forshpeis
A Taste of Torah in Honor of Shabbat
PARSHAT VA-YIGASH
YOSEFS POSITION ALLOWS HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS TO SHINE
DECEMBER 14, 2002/ 9 TEVET 5763
Modern writers have often
maligned Yosef (Joseph) as a mean spirited man.
They point to chapter 47 in this
weeks reading, when Yosef seems to take advantage
of the Egyptians as he distributes food during the
years of famine. In fact, the following examples
show that through a close reading of the text we
see that Yosef was a compassionate, caring leader,
who was deeply concerned for the welfare of
the Egyptians.
Yosef decided to sell grain to the Egyptians rather than giving it away. (47:14) He felt that greater dignity is given to individuals in need when they are forced to earn their food rather than receiving a handout. Ramban points out that the text supports the fact that Yosef brought all of the money he received to Pharaoh and kept nothing for himself.
After the Egyptians had spent all of their money Yosef allows them to buy food with their cattle (47:15-17) This, once again, echoes the concept that spending ones own money preserves his or her own dignity.
By the second year the money and cattle had all been spent. The Egyptians tell Yosef that theyre prepared to sell their land and even themselves as slaves for food. (47:18-24) While in sentence 19 the Egyptians say, "buy us and our land for food," Yosef, in sentence 20, buys the land only and Yosef categorically rejects this suggestion to sell themselves as slaves.
As to the suggestion that the land be sold to Pharaoh, Yosef agrees but provides a condition. The condition was that the Egyptians themselves must continue tilling the land and would then receive 80% of its produce. (47:24) In the words of Ramban: "By rights, the King, as lord of the land, is entitled to four-fifths and you, as tenants, to one-fifth. But I will treat you generously and give you the landowners share and Pharaoh will receive the tenants." (Ramban 47:19)
Yosef also insists that no land would be taken from the priests for they received a fixed portion of food from Pharaoh in return for their services. (47: 22)
While the nationalization of the land required moving population centers, (47:21) Rabbi Naftali Zvi Berlin, in his commentary the Haamek Davar, points out that Yosef moved the people en masse. "Leh-arim, according to their cities... He did so in order that they should not lose touch with their social groups."
The test of kindness is how one acts when in a position where the possibility of taking advantage of others exists. In his position of power in Egypt, Yosef passes this test with glowing results. No wonder he is called Yosef Ha-Tzaddik, Yosef the righteous one.
Rabbi Avi Weiss
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