Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 22 Kislev, 5785

Good morning! As we celebrate the beginning of a new week in which we celebrate the joy of the holiday season, and Hanukkah aligns with Christmas, we are reminded of the alignment happening around us.

We may not fully see it yet, and we are grounding in a new reality.

Today, Joseph engages Pharoah in the interpretation of the dream.

The purpose of the interpretation is peace.  And it is not of Joseph – it is Hashem using Joseph and his gifts for peace.

Where in life are we wanting peace? Bliss? Where is the world around you (us) trying to show us where that peace is?

Peace is found within the shadow. That is the message of Pharoah’s dreams. Where we see “evil” or “darkness” or “struggle” or “suffering” – these are shadows that we have prevented the light from touching within us.

Shadow is just space within us – where we have blocked the light.

What shadows within are you keeping from the light?

Why do we keep those hidden?

Can we allow ourselves to grieve?  Can we bring to light those parts of us we are ashamed to explore?

This is the message of the dream. 7 years of light, then 7 years of exploring shadows.  7 months. 7 hours. 7 minutes.

Light. shadow.

And the interpretation is clear – when the light comes? Store up those treasures for when we are working with our shadow. Deeply breathe into the shadow spaces within us – until the light comes again.

This is the natural ebb and flow.

Thoughts?

Here are my thoughts from last year:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 28 Kislev, 5784
Parsha Mikketz (Genesis 41:1 -44:17)
Second Portion: Genesis 41:15 – 41:38

Happy Hanukkah! It is day 4 – we are halfway through the special days of light. As we become the light in the world. The light in the darkness. As we take what we have learned since Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur; what we saw as the first fruits of Sukkot – and we put them fully into practice as we act in love. 

Tomorrow night is the Rosh Chodesh – the darkest of dark of Hanukkah.  As I read my thoughts from the past two years, I am struck by this from what I wrote two years ago:

Happy Hanukkah! On this first day of Hanukkah may we celebrate the TWO miracles of Hanukkah (thank you to Meir Rubashkin for pointing this out yesterday).

Not only do we have the miracle of the oil, but we also have the miracle of the battle. The Maccabees should not have been able to win, and yet they did! May you win those battles this week that you aren’t supposed to!

Last night we lit the Menorah in our town.  And once again, Rabbi Meir was there sharing the story of the two miracles of Hanukkah. 

I am ALSO struck by the thought from last year:

Today as I’m reflecting on the portion of the messengers in our lives who have come to share critical messages, I’m struck by how real this is for so many of us.

It could just be a coincidence that Rabbi Meir shared the SAME message in the same time frame as I am writing about the Torah (note – it does not line up with the Hebrew Calendar – in 5782, we lit the candles publicly on the first night of Hanukkah – last night was the fourth night in 5784).  Or – it could be an important message – not just for me – but for us.

There are battles in our life – maybe even right now; battles we should not be able to win. May these battles be won this week for us as we spend the week fully embraced in the lights of Hanukkah.  And may Friday night’s sabbath be full rest from the battles we have been facing – and may we add a NEW miracle to remember each Hanukkah moving forward – not just for the Maccabees – but for us as well!

With this – let’s dig in:

15And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter for it, but I have heard it said of you [that] you understand a dream, to interpret it.”

16And Joseph replied to Pharaoh, saying, “Not I; God will give an answer [that will bring] peace to Pharaoh.”

The first part of the portion today makes it clear.  Joseph is not taking credit for Hashem’s work. 

And. Joseph tells Pharoah – the purpose of the interpretation.  To bring peace. 

As someone who interprets dreams – this is critical. I have had people share nightmares with me – even recurring ones – and I have been able to share interpretations – that make the dream clear it is meant for peace.  (Shameless plug – if you want me to interpret your dreams – just send me an email)

Ok. Let’s keep going:

17And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream, behold, I was standing on the bank of the Nile.

18And behold, seven cows of robust flesh and handsome form were ascending from the Nile, and they pastured in the marshland.

19And behold, seven other cows were ascending after them, emaciated and of very ugly form and with meager flesh; I have not seen such ugly ones throughout the entire land of Egypt.

20And the meager and ugly cows devoured the first seven healthy cows.

21And they went inside them, but it was not known that they had gone inside of them, for their appearance was as ugly as in the beginning; then I awoke.

22Then I saw in my dream, and behold, seven ears of grain were growing on one stalk, full and good.

23And behold, seven ears of grain, hardened, thin, and beaten by the east wind, were growing up after them.

24And the thin ears of grain swallowed up the seven good ears of grain; I told the necromancers, but no one tells me [its meaning].”

The story here is a smidge different than the previous one the Torah tells. I am super curious as to WHY the story of the dream has shifted.  One thing that REALLY stands out in the telling is verse 21:

21And they went inside them, but it was not known that they had gone inside of them, for their appearance was as ugly as in the beginning; then I awoke.

The word “inside” stands out to me. Here’s how the Torah describes this part of the dream before:

3And behold, seven other cows were coming up after them from the Nile, of ugly appearance and lean of flesh, and they stood beside the cows [which were] on the Nile bank.

4And the cows of ugly appearance and lean of flesh devoured the seven cows that were of handsome appearance and healthy; then Pharaoh awoke.

We move from “devour” to “inside.”  That is curious isn’t it?  I’ll share more in a moment. First, let’s let Joseph interpret the dream:

25And Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s dream is one; what God is doing He has told Pharaoh.

26The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears of grain are seven years; it is one dream.

27And the seven meager and ugly cows coming up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears of grain, beaten by the east wind, will be seven years of famine.

28It is this matter that I have spoken to Pharaoh; what God is about to do He has shown Pharaoh.

29Behold, seven years are coming, great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt.

30And seven years of famine will arise after them, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine will destroy the land.

31And the plenty will not be known because of that famine to follow, for it [will be] very severe.

32And concerning the repetition of the dream to Pharaoh twice that is because the matter is ready [to emanate] from God, and God is hastening to execute it.

There ya go. Most of us are familiar with this interpretation.  Hashem is ready to give Pharoah 7 years of plenty. Then. 7 years of famine. 

And I am going to be bold here.  I am not saying Joseph’s interpretation was “wrong” no judgement.  It was on point.  I ALSO think the Torah allows for a new layer of interpretation.  And I think it centers around the word “inside.” Because although Joseph was correct in his interpretation, if someone told me this dream today? Here’s how I would interpret it.  And – keep in mind – I wrote this yesterday in my journal before reading today’s portion and seeing the word “inside” stand out:

The seven handsome cows are all within Pharaoh. They are the places of abundance with Pharaoh.  They are the parts of Pharoah he is proud of.

The seven unhealthy cows are the shadows. The parts of Pharoah (or the position of Pharoah) he is unaware of.  The shadows within Pharoah will consume him and ugliness will ensue.

I would not have been able to predict this from the dream itself – but it my speculation in hindsight would be this will potentially lead to the slavery of the Jews.

The second dream is ALSO within Pharoah. Seven places of personal growth and development. External forces beat Pharaoh down to the point his growth and development will stop. Cease.

That’s pretty bold.  I know. And if you want to challenge me – I am open to pushback.

Let’s get back to the Torah. Joseph has interpreted the dream. And now gives Pharoah a message on what to do WITH the interpretation:

33So now, let Pharaoh seek out an understanding and wise man and appoint him over the land of Egypt.

34Let Pharaoh do [this] and appoint officials over the land and prepare the land of Egypt during the seven years of plenty.

35And let them collect all the food of these coming good years, and let them gather the grain under Pharaoh’s hand, food in the cities, and keep it.

36Thus the food will remain as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which will be in the land of Egypt, so that the land will not be destroyed by the famine.”

37The matter pleased Pharaoh and all his servants.

38So Pharaoh said to his servants, “Will we find [anyone] like this, a man in whom there is the spirit of God?”

Joseph brought Pharoah peace. Pharoah immediately reacts that Joseph’s interpretation and response is pleasing.  He asks almost a rhetorical question – will we find anyone like Joseph – in whom there is the spirit of God?

This is where we leave the portion today.  Almost another cliff hanger.

So what about us? What is our takeaway? 

Let me go back to the dream. And let’s take this dream “inside.” Within us.

The seven handsome cows are all within Pharaoh. They are the places of abundance with Pharaoh.  They are the parts of Pharoah he is proud of.

The seven unhealthy cows are the shadows. The parts of Pharoah (or the position of Pharoah) he is unaware of.  The shadows within Pharoah will consume him and ugliness will ensue.

I would not have been able to predict this from the dream itself – but it my speculation in hindsight would be this will potentially lead to the slavery of the Jews.

The second dream is ALSO within Pharoah. Seven places of personal growth and development. External forces beat Pharaoh down to the point his growth and development will stop. Cease.

So here is what I think is meant “for us”:

                We are Pharoah. Pharoah is within us.

We are meant to look within.

Step 1: Let’s focus on seven things we see within ourselves that are abundant.  Places we are proud of. Examples could be talents we have been given (by Hashem), self awareness we have because of the hard work we’ve done, places of resilience within us.

Step 2: Let’s explore the shadows within us. Things, moments, decisions we feel guilt over. Shame. Regret. Things that lurk within us that have already consumed us or will consume us in the future. Find seven things from our past we see as the ugly parts of who we are. Let’s explore them. And receive the Isaac’s blessing of grief so they no longer control us. Because if we don’t? Ugliness will ensue. 

And. This is meant to happen.  We are at the bottom of the check mark. We are about to have abundance come our way. We need to store up the abundance we have to help us through the dark times. 

I think this is a good takeaway for us from Pharaoh’s dream.  Especially as we come out of Hanukkah and Kislev. It’s not too late to take stock, receive the abundance ahead and store it up for the shadows and darkness that will (inevitably) arrive.

The goal here is not to let the shadows consume us. Devour us. Where we not only end up slaves – but we enslave OTHERS.

Those are my thoughts.  What are yours?