Temptations
Nov 23rd, 2010 by Rabbi Simcha Weinberg in Portion of the Week
Temptation
Potiphar’s wife was desperate for Joseph. Rashi explains that it was more than a physical passion; she was convinced that she was destined to have a child with Joseph. The Kotzker describes her as one of the most dangerous people on the planet: A “Sheim Shamayimiker,” – someone who is convinced that what she is doing is for God. He points out that although she was committed to acting ‘for the sake of heaven,’ Jacob describes her as an evil and dangerous beast. The Kotzker concludes that there is no beast more dangerous than someone convinced that they are acting for the sake of heaven.
Whether Joseph was more tempted by the “woman” or by her religious passion is open to question, but we know that he almost succumbed. It was only the deep seeded teachings of his father, Jacob, which saved him in the final seconds. “Phew!”
The heroic dreamer accepted the rollercoaster of life with admirable calm. He held onto his dreams. He knew that they were visions of his own destiny. How else could he respond when two men, under his care, seem troubled by their dreams? So, the dreamer interprets their dreams. It could not have been a coincidence that the dreamer is presented with dreams. It cannot be a coincidence that he is presented with an opportunity to help him realize his own dreams. God is helping him.
Should he take advantage of the opportunity, or should he accept that God is guiding him toward his destiny, and does not need Joseph’s help?
That is a serious temptation.
We all struggle with similar temptations. How would we do?
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Learn & discover the Divine prophecies with Rabbi Simcha Weinberg from the holy Torah, Jewish Law, Mysticism, Kabbalah and Jewish Prophecies. The Foundation Stone™ is the ultimate resource for Jews, Judaism, Jewish Education, Jewish Spirituality & the holy Torah.
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[...] How would we do?Learn & discover the Divine prophecies with Rabbi Simcha Weinberg from the holy Torah, Jewish Law, Mysticism, Kabbalah and Jewish Prophecies. The Foundation Stone is the ultimate resource for Jews, Judaism, Jewish Education, Jewish [...]
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Everybody knows the parable of the man whose home is engulfed with floodwaters and consequently a rowboat comes to rescue him, a helicopter flies by with a ladder to save him etc. and each time he refuses, saying ‘G-d will save me’. Ultimately he drowns and when he appears before G-d and asks ‘G=d, why didn’t you save me?’ the Answer is ‘Who do you think sent the rowboat and the helicopter !!!’
I don’t necessarily think there was ‘temptation’ on Yoseif’s part to ask the wine steward to put in a good word for him.
I think Yoseif the dreamer would see the Divine Providence in dreams being sent his way for interpretation and to serve as a vehicle for his salvation. Yoseif’s asking the wine steward to intercede with Par’o would seem to be his ‘hishtadlut’,his effort to get out of jail using whatever tools G-d provided.
As far as Potiphar’s wife was concerned, she had an unclear vision- she saw that a woman in Potiphar’s house was destined to have relations with Yoseif and to bear him a child/children. What she did not know was that woman was Osnat, Dina’s daughter who was being raised in their household.
Perhaps one of the great quandaries in life is being pointed up by the various episodes mentioned above: How do we interpret the signals we believe G-d is sending us?