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RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: CHUMASH CANDESCENCE: PARASHA MIKEITZ: GENESIS 41:01 TO 44:17
CHUMASH CANDESCENCE
PARASHA MIKEITZ
GENESIS 41:01 TO 44:17
RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL
"More Games With Masks"
Here we are, at the end of Hanukah, with visions and hopefully
realities, of our families gathered together lighting the chanukeah,
spinning the draidels, eating latkas and chocolate gold Hanukah gelt, and
sharing presents and holiday joy. Yet here we are in our week's Torah
portion, in Egypt, with Joseph and his brothers, still caught in the ugly
family dysfunction that has plagued their clan for generations back.
Could we for a moment imagine THIS family sharing a Hanukah meal with the
kids deciding who gets to light the first candle or pick their favorite
color from the box of candles?? Who would decide the place seatings??
Would we sit Tammy next to Judah?? Would he even recognize her?? Which
mom gets to sit across from pappa Jacob?? Whose recipe for latkes would
we use?? Oy. Luckily, this Hanukah scene will not be played out by this
family's descendents for 1500 years, although the first Pesach is only a
few hundred years away.
In this week's parasha the recurring theme of hidden agendas and lack of
assertive communication is replayed. Wearing the mask this time is
Joseph, who does not reveal himself to his brothers. These poor guys are
squirming and in fear for their very lives. And Joseph drags the game
on and on, pulling the brothers, and then his father Jacob, closer into
his net. And why not? Has Joseph had training in assertiveness?? Has
Joseph had training in observing a normal family life where he could
have learned trust and unconditional love?
Joseph ,as we read in last week's parasha was a gifted, bright young
man. But he was also was a tattle tale and spoke loshan ha ra. He was
proud, flaunting his new coat and his award as most- favored son, in
front of his older brothers. He told them of his dream that one day they
would bow to him. Joseph knew that his brothers could be cruel and
bloody, as the massacre of the men of Shechem was only in the recent
past. He indeed was a dreamer but his interpretation of dreams helped
save him from Pharaoh's dungeon.
And so Joseph deals with his brothers as he saw his brothers and father
and mother(s) and grandfather and grandmother deal with their family and
others...with masks on. Tamra masquerades from Judah. The brothers hide
Joseph's demise from Jacob. Jacob dresses up as Esau to fool Isaac.
Rebbekah insists that he do it!! Laban masks Leah to fool Isaac. We are
taught Talmudically that Rachel helps Leah fool Isaac. Rachel lies to her
dad about his missing idol, masking it under her skirt. Abraham masks the
true reason he and Isaac are taking their pilgrimage. God's angels as
men are masked when ever they appear!!!! God speaks to man through
angels, and through dreams, and in riddles, and rarely if ever
assertively and open. Joseph has had some lousy role models.
As we light the Hanukah menorah, at home or at Temple, and we looked
around the room, were our friends and loved ones seeing the real us, or
were they seeing the masks we wish to wear?? Are we honest and
assertively kind with our friends and family or do we beat around the
bush, speak in half truths, speak in riddles, and keep up the 4000 year
old masquerade? Do we pray to God honestly, with kavenah, and with true
intention, or just perfunctory work our way through the Shabbat
service? Do we mask our own true feelings from our own selves, going
through life with a cloudy hidden sense of self that makes it impossible
to truly know and love another?
As the glow of the Hanukah menorah for this year and the weekly glow of our
Shabbat candles light up our faces, may we all resolve to lift off the
masks and facades that hid us from each other , to make our lives and
our loves meaningful and wonderful, and to pray that God continues to
show His face to us and that we can successfully be able to smile back at
Him.
Amen
Shabbat shalom, happy end of Hanukah and a happy, healthy new secular year!!!
RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL
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