PRINCE OR SLAVE?

Parashat Vayeishev

Torah: Genesis 37:1 – 40:23

Haftarah: Amos 2:6 – 3:8

Kislev 23, 5782 / November 26-27, 2021

This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Chanah Elisheva bat Minnie Leah, Feigel bat Kreina, and D'vorah bat Feigel. 

This d'var torah is offered in honor of our son, Robert Flom, who is celebrating his birthday with us on Wednesday, December 1. Yom huledet sameach! Ad meah v'esrim!

This d'var torah is offered in honor of my sister, Lorrie Flom, who is celebrating her birthday on Monday, November 29. Yom huledet sameach! Ad meah v'esrim!
 
Lunch and Learn meets Tuesday at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. We’re continuing to read and discuss the Midrashic collection Ein Ya’akov.  A link to the reading is here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Jt-NLamlIiAGpBhU7WNrCVZGBYhHHWCN/view?usp=sharing 

On November 30, we’ll be continuing from the bottom of page 23, "V'amar Rebbi Yochanan mishum Rebbi Shimon bar Yochai" - "And again Rebbi Yochanan said in the name of Rebbi Shimon bar Yochai"

Thursday, November 25 is Thanksgiving Day! Take a moment to recite Hallel at your dinner table, just like we do at the Seder Shel Pesach. Hodu l'adonai ki tov - Give thanks to the Lord who is good! 

Sunday evening, November 28 is the first night of Hanukkah. Chag Urim Sameach!

Check out our wonderful community, and get lots of info about becoming a Chaver and our various programs, at:
https://bnaihayim.org/ 

Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog which you should read at: 
https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/     

Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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PRINCE OR SLAVE?

"And it came to pass after these things that the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker had sinned against their master, the king of Egypt. Pharaoh was angry at his two princes - the prefect of the cupbearers and the prefect of the bakers." Genesis 40:1-2

Joseph Interpreting Dreams in Prison - Claude Vignon, 1620s

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch says that the reference to the two courtiers as "princes" is mockery. To those who served beneath them, they were "princes", wielding great power; but to the king, they were nothing more than slaves with fancy titles. He threw them into prison for no apparent reason. The cupbearer and baker failed to understand that, when one's position is dependent solely upon the whim of one's superior, one's position is, at best, precarious.

So it is all too often with people who attain positions of power granted by another. They clothe themselves in self-importance. The opinions of those who work for them are irrelevant. These "princes" believe that direct contact with the king somehow makes them as powerful as the king.

The most desirable community, it seems to me, is one where every member, whether leader or not, fully understands that they are serving a higher purpose; where there is no self-aggrandizement, no delusion of grandeur interfering with their dedication and perseverance. Fortunate is that community whose leaders understand that they are NOT royalty. Equally fortunate are the leaders and workers who serve that community which does not treat them like slaves. I am thankful to be a member of such a community! May it be thus for all of us.

Shabbat Shalom! Chag Urim Sameach!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom

הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם

Who is wise?  The one who learns from every person.

Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1

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