Dear Friends,
Even powerful rulers don’t always know what to do. That shouldn’t be a surprise to you.
Revelations about back-room discussions and negotiations in governments are always fascinating. Recent information coming to light about the Past President’s frenzied last months in office are characteristic, as recent books by or about Mitt Romney, Mark Meadows and Liz Cheney indicate.
But, it is not only current leaders whose indecision is concerning. Torah reveals that such was the case in the palace of the most powerful ruler in the ancient day. Pharaoh was troubled by his dreams – which he took seriously – and was fearful that they prognosticated some coming calamity. After seeking counsel from all of his advisors and finding their responses inadequate, angrily, he learned that there was a Hebrew slave who could accurately decipher dreams, yet who was languishing in prison.
“Thereupon Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was rushed from the dungeon. He had his hair cut and changed his clothes, and he appeared before Pharaoh.” {Genesis 41:14)
We learn that just when a leader is most vulnerable, is exactly when he or she must turn to the widest circles of counsel and support. Even a young Hebrew slave sitting in a prison cell is a potential guide to next steps or to meaningful decisions.
Today, this is especially salient advice. Presently, from Kiev to Jerusalem, Washington to Caracas, Austin, TX to Tallahassee, Harvard Yard to West Philadelphia, we see leaders struggling to manage pressing concerns. Violent war, gang cartels, inexcusable healthcare policies and ill-advised positions on communal hatred are all at risk of disrupting or upending states, nations or universities, or at least their respective leadership.
It is a critical time for leaders to take counsel – and to seek advice from unlikely places. One should listen to concerned pregnant mothers in Texas, and to college students in Ithaca or Cambridge. One should heed the calls of protestors in Tel Aviv, low-level intelligence analysts in Jerusalem, and ex-Twitter users in Cupertino and Mountain View, CA. High school students in Newburgh and college kids in New Paltz have insight and wisdom; it is their futures which are at risk, too.
Thus, Pharaoh did not waste a minute. He speedily summoned Joseph from prison, listened to his sage advice, and placed him in charge of planning for the coming famine, thus saving Egyptians and others from imminent starvation.
From where are we getting our advice?
Funny how the wisdom of an illegal foreigner, dwelling in jail, might save the world!
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Chanukah,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
Even powerful rulers don’t always know what to do. That shouldn’t be a surprise to you.
Revelations about back-room discussions and negotiations in governments are always fascinating. Recent information coming to light about the Past President’s frenzied last months in office are characteristic, as recent books by or about Mitt Romney, Mark Meadows and Liz Cheney indicate.
But, it is not only current leaders whose indecision is concerning. Torah reveals that such was the case in the palace of the most powerful ruler in the ancient day. Pharaoh was troubled by his dreams – which he took seriously – and was fearful that they prognosticated some coming calamity. After seeking counsel from all of his advisors and finding their responses inadequate, angrily, he learned that there was a Hebrew slave who could accurately decipher dreams, yet who was languishing in prison.
“Thereupon Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was rushed from the dungeon. He had his hair cut and changed his clothes, and he appeared before Pharaoh.” {Genesis 41:14)
We learn that just when a leader is most vulnerable, is exactly when he or she must turn to the widest circles of counsel and support. Even a young Hebrew slave sitting in a prison cell is a potential guide to next steps or to meaningful decisions.
Today, this is especially salient advice. Presently, from Kiev to Jerusalem, Washington to Caracas, Austin, TX to Tallahassee, Harvard Yard to West Philadelphia, we see leaders struggling to manage pressing concerns. Violent war, gang cartels, inexcusable healthcare policies and ill-advised positions on communal hatred are all at risk of disrupting or upending states, nations or universities, or at least their respective leadership.
It is a critical time for leaders to take counsel – and to seek advice from unlikely places. One should listen to concerned pregnant mothers in Texas, and to college students in Ithaca or Cambridge. One should heed the calls of protestors in Tel Aviv, low-level intelligence analysts in Jerusalem, and ex-Twitter users in Cupertino and Mountain View, CA. High school students in Newburgh and college kids in New Paltz have insight and wisdom; it is their futures which are at risk, too.
Thus, Pharaoh did not waste a minute. He speedily summoned Joseph from prison, listened to his sage advice, and placed him in charge of planning for the coming famine, thus saving Egyptians and others from imminent starvation.
From where are we getting our advice?
Funny how the wisdom of an illegal foreigner, dwelling in jail, might save the world!
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Chanukah,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
