By Rabbi Dovid Markel
Parshat Vayeshev discusses the story of Yosef and the beginning of Israel’s descent into exile. Indeed, it was initially due to Yosef that Israel went down to Egypt and it was only when Yosef’s memory had passed that the exile began in earnest.
This is expressed in the verse (Shemot, 1:8-11) “A new king arose over Egypt, who did not know about Yosef He said to his people, ‘Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more numerous and stronger than we are…’ So they appointed over them tax collectors to afflict them with their burdens, and they built store cities for Pharaoh, namely Pithom and Raamses.” Only when Yosef was forgotten did the exile commence.
When reading the story of Yosef the one reoccurring theme that is constantly present in dreams. His story begins with dreams, he is sold due to them, in prison we hear of his dreams, and his eventual rise to viceroy is as well due to his interpretation of dreams.
In Yosef and his dreams though is expressed the core of the exile and the secret of redemption.
The verse (Tehillim 126:1) states: “A song of ascents. When the Lord returns the returnees to Zion, we shall be like dreamers.” In this verse the entire reality of exile is likened to the state of a dreamer.
A dream is a situation where one’s mind is jumbled. Things occur in what seems to be without logical sequence and is often totally nonsensical. This is the heart of the exile that the Jewish people are placed in a situation that is illogical according to the natural order of G-d.
Expressed however, is the manner to escape the exile—through interpreting the dream. It is only because things seem to occur without rhyme or reason that we are pained by the world that we are in. For, perhaps the most painful reality of exile is the painful confusion that we are confounded with.
The secret then to escape the exile is the interpretation of the dream. As long as Yosef—the interpreter of dreams—was alive, the Israelites did not experience the pain of exile. For, although true that they were physically in exile instead of seeing the confusion they understood its purpose.
The same is true in our lives—the first step in leaving the exile is interpreting the dream. In a dream, our minds scatter the letters that we thought of throughout the day to create an incoherent picture, the interpretation is to rearrange those letters.
This is done through the study of Chassidus. Without Chassidus we see the letters of our life without the clarity of our soul. We are in a sleep state where we don’t encounter reality for what it truly is—expression of G-d. Instead, we turn things on its head and chase things that have no importance.
Through the study of Chassidism we are able to wake up from our personal slumber and experience a personal redemption. This is turn serves as the catalyst for the ultimate redemption—may it happen speedily, Now!
