Sedra of the week Miketz
Rabbi Zvi Solomons odders a preview of this week's Torah portion
We have so many distractions in our lives I’m amazed we get anything done. We wander off and explore irrelevance rather than the important. On social media, we fall victim to the desire to pursue a minor point to distraction – ultimately a self-destructive approach, because by pursuing minor preoccupations we forget our core activities.
Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk told of a man with a special tobacco box, made from the horn of a holy goat. One day, it could not be found. He eventually met the animal, whose horns reached the heavens. The goat let him cut a piece of horn to make another box. Others felt the horn made the tobacco taste better and since the goat was pretty free with its horn, they too each received a piece; now the goat wanders about with no horns.
We start this week’s parasha with Joseph having been used by others for their own benefit. He tries constantly to do right, by his brothers, by Potiphar in his home, and by the butler and the baker with their dreams. Only in this week’s parsha does he come into his own, showing wisdom and helping Pharaoh and Egyptians to avoid the coming famine.
The essence of the situation is that none of us should allow ourselves to be the vehicle for satisfying others’ desires. By letting ourselves be sucked into a Facebook discussion, a Twitter storm or political controversies, we will, like the goat, end up losing the one valuable thing we have.
Zvi Solomons is rabbi of the Jewish Community of Berkshire (www.JCoB.org)
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
