by Rabbi David Katz

In the Parsha Mikeitz, we encounter a timeless saga, one that we can identify with even in today’s distant World from Joseph and his Brothers. After having witnessed Joseph’s being delivered to Egypt, Judah’s union with Tamar (and ultimately merging with the seed of Shem), and finally Joseph’s rise to prominence upon rising to Hashem’s expectations upon him, we find a fascinating arena to dwell upon. Joseph seemingly has been sent ahead of his Brothers to Egypt, and miraculously, they join up with him fulfilling his childhood dreams of which eleven stars would ultimately bow down to him. But this was more than the dream’s exterior.

This revelation was not based upon victory and bowing down, rather it speaks about rectification of Brotherhood, and Joseph’s pre-arrival in Egypt was destined to be more than a happenstance “sent ahead condition” due to one’s meandering and telling tall tales.  The Torah is showing God’s Providence in a microcosmic window of what the redemption of brotherhood looks like in the macrocosm. The key to this equation wasn’t that Joseph had a special status, rather he was graced with the power of perception: “And Joseph Recognized his Brothers.” Where the original sin took place with Adam and Eve, and her “perception of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil”, Joseph is repairing schism that will resonate onwards with clarity that we can perceive even until this day. Abraham could not identify Ishmail. Isaac could not grasp Esau. The Brothers could not tolerate the image of Joseph. But in the end, Joseph was able to see beyond himself.

When Shem had finally found the Abraham that he was looking for, someone who not only would accept the Torah, but would innovate it and pass it on to his son, and sons to come, he was in a sense explaining the Torah to us. As much as it may seem, that the Jewish People have sent away the Mother Bird in Shem (as there is a commandment to send the mother bird away from her nest and to remove the eggs, showing mercy to the bird, upon which Hashem will grant one length of days; this being one of the more obscure commandments in the Torah), much like one moves on from his household and parents, perhaps it was Shem that did the dispatching.

It was not long after the Torah was accepted, that the Jewish and therefore a Worldly reality was set into place. For as soon as Jacob merited twelve tribes from the Teachings of Shem for 50 years, we are immediately introduced to Joseph, schism, and an exile into Egypt; these components constitute the terrain that will provide us with imagery that we can see even today: Brothers, Exile, Torah, Saga, Redemption, Surprise, etc. It’s as if Shem’s influence upon the Jewish People had immediately created a new nation, as this was the goal of Shem and his influence onto Jacob: to create Twelve Tribes, and a nation that would be subject to a unique destiny. The parallel to Shem, would be none other than Jacob. For just as Shem saw Jacob to be fit to be the father of the Tribes, Jacob saw that Joseph would be a proper nation to carry on the mission as well, with his own destiny. This would go even as far as creating a redeemer called Messiah son of Joseph, a Man that would carry with him this very destined mission! (Of perception through Torah, bringing in the exiles, repairing schism, etc.) And just like Joseph merges with Judah in these portions of Torah, the Messiah’s of Joseph and David will merge as true Brothers as well. It is then, that Brotherhood will become revealed in the World, and the Jewish People will begin to perceive their Brothers going back to Shem as well – “And Joseph recognized his Brothers.” We can see the Jewish / Noahide revelations within a new light, with the foresight of Joseph.

Fast forward to today: and the Jewish People went through exile, Shem’s Torah lives, Brothers are coming together, and we are even starting to recognize a few familiar faces, dating back to the origins of two great Nations: Jews and Noahides – Brothers, in the mold of its inception like Shem with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was Shem that was able to see the Forefathers, and ironically, today we call upon “Joseph” (and the Messiah of) to recognize each other after a Divine Exile has ran its course. There is a saying in Torah: “The action of the forefathers is a sign to be understood by the offspring”, meaning that which happened then, will be sure to happen again.

Today we have Noahides and Jews, each in his respective camp, trying to figure out what is next in the Divine Plan. Think about Joseph and his Brothers: As the moment of truth was fast approaching, Joseph, although he recognized, he was still confused with what exactly would commence, and the Brothers were at a total loss of perception, inching ever closer to their destiny that would prove to be one of the biggest ironies ever!

The Jewish People have been sent out on a long mission, and from the Noahide perspective, perhaps their mission was even longer! Both are trying to perceive the other, whether intentionally or not. We can only hope soon, the revelation of ,”אני יוסף” (I am Joseph) will be heard echoing from both camps. And what was Joseph’s question once contact was made? - “Is my father still alive?” The symmetry in this equation is fantastic to understand, once one delves into the parallelism involved. Within the actual story of the Torah concerning Joseph and the Brothers, both sides feared that there may be resentment after the Truth was revealed. The famed rabbi, “The Vilna Gaon”, has claimed that the Third Temple will be built like the Second Temple, only where the Second Temple went from its construction to a path of destruction at its inception, The Third will be eternal and only Good. The final dual revelation of, “And Joseph recognized his Brothers”, will also bid farewell to animosity and resentment found in Brothers. Just as Joseph merited two sons, we can see the message within both of their names, that just may speak of the future reunion within Joseph himself: portrayed by Noahides and Jews. The Firstborn of Joseph, selected by Jacob, Ephraim, means, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.” Menashe, the other son of Joseph (and who was the literal firstborn), comes to say, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s household.” The commentator’s state that the explanation of Menashe refers to Joseph’s ability and strength to comply with God’s will of his unfolding plan, that he remembered his father, and that there was no ill will.

Again, the similarities in Joseph and his Brothers may reach out to many people, and touch many hearts. Yet it is the personal stamp upon the Noahide and Jew, as they come out of a lengthy saga, that witnessed the Jews travel a Noahide World while escorting the Torah and her travels through the destined Academy’s of Shem and Ever that filled the World from the time and dedication of Adam, and The Noahides that secured the World’s continued existence, and long awaited return to study the Torah while searching for the white tzitzit that both came from Shem and his merit. Both succeeded, and both now are called upon to be like Joseph and his famed success and recognize his Brothers.

The numerical (Gematria) value of, “ויכר יוסף את אחיו” (and Joseph recognized his Brothers) comes out to 818. The value of Isaac (spelled in full) is 818, and Isaac is spelled, “יצחק”, yet when we rearrange the letters of Isaac, we find, “קץ חי” (The Live End, or the End Lives). How fitting is it to find Isaac here, his Blessings, and after all, it was Isaac that knew the whole time that Joseph was still alive. Perhaps Joseph is still alive, even today. Perhaps, the Messiah son of Joseph, who was destined to die says the Talmud, maybe just as the Vilna Gaon has told us, he will certainly live. He was alive then, as Isaac knew…all that was and is missing, is a piece of perception…Joseph recognized his Brothers, and it is in these times, that Jews and Noahides, Brothers dating back to the creation of this Divine saga, can now recognize each other as well.