{Originally posted to Rabbi Weinberg’s website, The Foundation Stone}
Having experience with a similar situation, I wonder about Joseph’s behavior as his father’s favorite son (Genesis 37:3). I am more confused about Jacob’s officially bestowing the favorite son status on Joseph after the troublemaker, “would bring evil reports about them – his brothers – to their father (Verse 2). My gently informing my father of my sisters’ considerable faults did not earn me increased love. If I had spent my time, “dressing his hair and adorning his eyes to look handsome (Rashi; Verse 2),” I probably would have lost some of my esteemed position as favorite son. Yet, Jacob, officially declares Joseph as his favorite after, perhaps even because of, Joseph’s considerable time in front of a mirror, and his not so gentle evil reports about his brothers!
Joseph, the mirror gazer and bearer of evil reports, was not satisfied with his favorite son status. He wanted more. He purposely provokes his brothers by sharing his dreams of glory, ignores their jealousy and hatred, and provokes again! What was Jacob’s reaction? “His father kept the matter in mind (Verse 11)!”
Joseph does not learn his lesson, and continues to grab favored status only to provoke people around him. Sold to the Egyptian Chamberlain of the Butchers, Joseph again rises to favored status, and again provokes the situation by his arrogant words to his master’s wife (39:8-9), and his inappropriate behavior with her. Does he learn his lesson?
It seems not. He quickly wins favored status with the prison warden (Verse 21), and soon provokes his only potential advocate, Pharaoh’s Wine Steward, “If only you would think of me with yourself when he – Pharaoh – benefits you, and you will do me a kindness, if you please, and mention me to Pharaoh, then you would get me out of this building (40:14).”
Why do I consider Joseph’s request as a provocation? Pharaoh’s Baker probably did not serve the sponge cake usually served in synagogues, and the Wine Steward probably did not serve the heavy, super sweet Malaga we drink on Pesach. Pharaoh’s baker surely copied his creations from Las Delicias Patisserie, and the wine steward certainly combed the world seeking the finest wines. “The cupbearer of the King of Egypt and the baker transgressed against their master, against the King of Egypt. Pharaoh was enraged at his two courtiers, the Chamberlain of the Cupbearers and the Chamberlain of the Bakers (Verse 1-2).” Although the verse is vague about their transgression, it offers a hint when it begins by describing them as a simple cupbearer and common baker, not as Chamberlains. They did something common. Perhaps the baker served synagogue sponge cake, and the cupbearer, some Passover wine. They did something beneath their elevated status.
The Wine Steward dreamed of finding the most spectacular wine in the world. He was too intimidated to raise the issue of an imprisoned common slave. Did Joseph expect this man, walking on eggshells to do anything beneath his restored elevated position? I think not. I believe that Joseph wanted only to provoke him, because the mirror gazer saw a Professional Provocateur as his reflection.
Rashi comments at the beginning of the portion, vaYeishev, “And Jacob Settled,” that, “after his long exile and struggles, Jacob wished to settle down in tranquility, but the anguish of Joseph’s kidnapping was thrust upon him.” There is another way to read the Hebrew words, Kaftza alav rogzo shel Yoseph: Joseph’s anger was aroused against Jacob! Joseph perceived his father’s desire to settle in tranquility as weakness and chose to provoke him. He dressed his hair, adorned his eyes and brought evil reports about his brothers to Jacob, to prod his father awake.
Jacob understood what Joseph was doing and granted him the status of favorite son, making for him a Coat of Many Colors, to provoke the brothers, who, so susceptible to jealousy and hatred, had settled down a little too much themselves. They were no longer the lions that would wage war to protect the family’s honor. Joseph provoked them with his dreams, and began to appreciate that the Provocateur of those slumbering through life would achieve greatness. “His father kept the matter in mind,” so much so that he sent Joseph to “visit” the brothers who were pasturing the flocks in Shechem: the brothers returned to the place where they had last acted with energy and power. Joseph’s provocations were effective, and Jacob sent Joseph to provoke them into becoming even more.
Joseph was bothered when, after his being granted favored status, his master, “concerns himself about nothing in the house (39:8).” Potiphar had gone to sleep. The Provocateur went right to work.
Joseph knew that the Wine Steward would not risk advocating for the Hebrew slave, unless Pharaoh had a desperate need for someone willing to challenge everything. When Pharaoh was desperate (41:8), the Wine Steward could not help but remember The Provocateur.
There was someone other than Jacob who understood Joseph’s mission, which is why Tamar becomes a Provocateur of Judah (Chapter 38), and the Mother of Royalty, even naming her son, the future forbearer of the Davidic Dynasty, Peretz, the Breacher, or, The Provocateur!
What is Chanukah other than a celebration of those willing to provoke the Syrian Greeks and prod the Jewish people to awake from their slumber? We honor The Provocateurs if only to arouse ourselves from the deep sleep of those willing to observe, pray, study, think, and dress, only as do everyone else.
The Foundation Stone is intended to prod our hearts, souls, and minds, awake, to provoke people into examining Torah, Judaism and Mitzvot, with eyes wide awake, as did Joseph’s brothers who became lions again, and, as the lions of the Chanukah story, bringing life, energy and passion to our spiritual lives, so we can all rise to greatness. Please click on the Donate Icon below to provoke us into accomplishing even more.
I wish you a Shabbat and Chanukah of Provocateurs.