Hilary Peer's Sermon 21st December 2024 / 20th Kislev 5785

Vayehsev

This week’s Torah portion takes us into the “Joseph novella,” which will continue throughout the rest

of Genesis.

Perhaps, one of the most famous stories about Joseph is that of his technicolored Dreamcoat. It is

also one of the best known, in Western literature and adapted by Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice

into the operetta Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Joseph is a typical example of ‘the youngest child’, adored by his father, and always finding ways to

be close to him even if it means reporting on his brother’s behavior.

Like his father, Joseph was a dreamer something that amongst other things, his brothers (Who would become the tribes of Israel) hated him for.

Dreams have long played an integral role in Jewish tradition. In the Tanach, dreams are seen as a

means of communicating messages from God and as a source of truth about the present and the

future. The Talmud imagines that dreaming can tap into the powers of prophecy, while the kabbalists understood dreams as journeys of the soul that may summon messengers or ward off frightening night time visions.

Joseph dreams of a sheaf of wheat, with twelve other sheaves of wheat bowing down to it. His

second dream was ‘this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to him.”

Joseph wasted no time in sharing his dreams with his family, When Joseph told his dreams to his

brothers, was he displaying arrogance? Or naivete?

Even his beloved Father, Yaakov rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your

mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?”

As parents we often say to our children, enough with the dreams it’s time to get serious about your

future etc, etc. We think our dreams and our children’s dreams are far-fetched and out of reach. I beg to differ.

Going back to the story in hand, even though Joseph went through many hurdles in life, being thrown in a pit by his brothers, sold into slavery, seduced by Pharaoh’s wife and thrown into prison. He remained focused, and through his faith and resilience pursued his dream and fulfilled his destiny.

Joseph was a dreamer who went on to become a powerful leader.

Joseph’s story is so relevant to our Jewish faith and history. Throughout history Jews always dreamt

of returning to their homeland.

Théodore Herzl’s famous quote “If you will it, it is no dream; and if you do not will it, a dream it is and a dream it will stay”

Ben Gurion the first prime minister of Israel, had the dream/vision of making the Negev desert

bloom.

Did anyone believe that the desert could bloom, wasn’t this just a foolish dream?

The point is that if your will is strong enough and you will it to be so, it will occur. You will accomplish your dream if you believe it to be real before it is reality.

As Jewish People we know that life brings challenges, and plenty of them. Our history is filled with horrors, and right now it feels hopeless with what is going on in Israel and around the world. We are waiting for our 100 hostages to be brought home; we must be their light.

Looking back at our history, we know that dreams can turn into reality, we have proven time and time again that our resilience and our faith can make great things happen.

Let us be like Joseph, and remind ourselves that even in the darkest moments, there is always the possibility of renewal and transformation.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Chanukah Sameach