Prioritizing Israel’s achievements - Parashat Vayeshev 5785

Last week, we discussed things that Israel makes us proud of and concerns us. We mentioned Israel’s modernity, technology, culture, and diversity, among other things. We also spoke about politics and fanatism. Now, you figure out which makes us proud and which scares us.

However, Israel’s achievements during this war can be remarkable. In the lap of three months, between July and October, the three foremost leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah were killed by the Israeli Defense Forces. Ismayil Haniyah, Yahia Sinwar, and Hassan Nasrallah. The latest, Nasarallah’s targeting, was preceded by an accurate and precise attack on the pagers and mobile devices of Hezbollah members. Israel has been capable of capturing many terrorists in Gaza and reaching them in other places all over the globe in what is considered an outstanding achievement.

And I ask myself, how can we rely on all these fantastic achievements while one of the vital purposes of this ongoing war has yet to be accomplished by Israel? Israel has been fruitful and firmly committed over the last 14 months. We have witnessed so much beauty, comfort, and unity that a few people forget what’s the most critical issue of this war: bringing the hostages back.

Any other thing, as much as it seems to be impressive, it is not as relevant as bringing each of our brothers and sisters back home. Just to remind you, 100 hostages are still captive in the Gaza Strip for more than four hundred and forty-one days. Even with the most accurate and precise attack, Israel might have conducted, we are still missing the important part, and it is a pity that we forget about that because a future that is based on an illusional success is not a safe future.

Let me give you another example of this idea based on this week's Torah portion. Parashat Vayeshev tells the story of Yosef (Joseph) and how he was taken to Egypt. Before becoming a senior advisor to the Pharaoh, he went through a highly challenging time. It all started when Potiphar, captain of the Egyptian king's guard, brought Yosef to work for him at home. He really trusted this Hebrew young man, and suddenly, out of nowhere, the Torah says:

“He left all that he had in Joseph’s hands and, with him there, he paid attention to nothing save the food that he ate. Now Joseph was well built and handsome”

(Bereshit / Genesis 39:6)

One crucial detail here is that immediately after this pasuk (verse), we read what happened to Joseph regarding Potiphar’s wife. He was accused of misconduct in sexual ways with that woman.

Back to our question. I can understand why the Torah tells us how much Potiphar trusted Yosef, but what does this description of his beauty say here? We can learn about what is happening today through two powerful answers to this question.

There is a Midrash (Tanḥuma Vayeshev 8) who argues that “As soon as he saw that he was ruler (in the house), he began to eat and drink and curl his hair. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, “Your father is mourning and you curl your hair! I will let a bear loose against you”.

How could Yosef focus on such a superfluous thing as his hair while his brothers were so concerned about him, and his father was still mourning his “death”?

That’s why Joseph was punished with all the calamities brought upon him afterward. If he was doing so great and successful in his new position, why didn’t he try to reach his father? Instead, he preferred to “curl his hair,” something definitely secondary to what matters most. Yosef made a remarkable achievement, but he forgot the main problem. “All that glitters is not gold.”

That is the first answer to our question about what can happen when we are stunned by some relatively shiny but superfluous accomplishments instead of focusing on the urgent and vital issue.

I found another answer in one of my favorite commentaries to the Torah, written by Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch. He addresses this apparently out-of-context verse, telling us about Joseph’s beauty and explaining that this external factor was indeed relevant to the story; however, it was placed in a secondary position. Hirsch says this physical attribute was one of many characteristics he had that influenced Potiphar’s wife being attracted to him.

“That’s why we are told Yosef impressed the lady and found grace in her eyes, not only because of his beauty but mainly because of his spiritual achievements, which made him to rise from his low-rank status as a slave to almost master over his own master. His beauty only increased this impression to a level she couldn’t put herself before him. That’s the reason the Torah says “after these events”: Every single thing that came before this episode, added to this new development.”

(RaSHaR Hirsch to Bereshit 39:6)

Hirsch doesn’t say Joseph’s beauty was pointless. It was an essential piece of the story but shouldn’t be put in first place. That wasn’t the most outstanding attribute of the character; it was added to the real remarkable ones. According to this interpretation, Yosef's crucial characteristics were his moral audacity, spiritual standard, wisdom, and knowledge.

In the same way, Israel’s “fancy achievements” during this war are crucial to the story we are writing. I won’t say there is beauty in them because it is hard to accept this is the reality the Jews need to deal with, of actively defending ourselves against cruel enemies. But if we look at them, we can say that it is impressive.

Eliminating the leader of Hamas, who was heavily protected by the Iranians, and doing it on their soil is a fantastic accomplishment. Killing Nasrallah in Beirut, the man who was responsible for thousands of wounded citizens, murdered soldiers, and innocent people killed in terrorist attacks all over the globe, is something I’m quietly proud of, especially when we understand the preceding operation of the pagers, beepers, and mobile phones.

However, I would be much more impressed, proud, and even happier if Israel could reach an agreement to release all the hostages immediately. I mean, if you add to that vital issue all the “shiny” achievements Israel has made in the last year, that would add an extra layer among the many characteristics of the Jewish state.

This is very clear because even after a year of many military successes, even after the three main terrorist leaders were killed, and even after the ceasefire with Lebanon that began almost a month ago, nobody thinks the war is over. Not because we feel threatened in the same way we felt on October 7, 2023. We are not there, thank God! (And mainly thanks to the IDF).

It is not that I’m not proud of what we did and what we do; I am. Just imagine going to have dinner at a nice restaurant. You order appetizers, and they are as tasty as you could expect. Then you order some drinks and salads, all of which were above your expectations… but the main course doesn’t come… You cannot say the restaurant is not a good place; it is. You just do not have what you went for.

Think about coming to the Shaharit service this morning. We sing all the P’sukei D’zimrah beautifully; we pray Shema Yisrael out loud, and then… nothing, no Torah Reading, no sermon, and of course, no Kiddush or Luncheon!

That’s not what you came for.

The same thing happens here. Parashat Vayeshev, the story of Joseph’s beauty, reminds us not to focus on just one thing but “first things first.” The mention of Yosef being יפה תואר ויפה מראה, handsome and cute, is actually in his favor, but as we just learned, it should be secondary to what really matters.

May God inspire Am Yisrael and its leaders to bring all the hostages back so we can be proud of all our other achievements.

Shabbat Shalom.