Jews and Money
Adapted from Rabbi Braun’s sermon in 5769
At times we must ask ourselves, how much do we value our money and the lifestyle that we have become accustomed to living? Has this become more important to us than it should be?
Certainly that is an appropriate question for Chanukah- the Hellenists although not enamored with money perse, were taken by the Greek culture, its hedonism and focus on the material and abandoned their religious ways. The victory and message of Chanukah is that the spirit is more important than the material. Many encounters with other cultures have similarly tested the Jews and in the past Jewish communities have not always succeeded in maintaining the proper balance and understanding that Judaism is the ultimate value.
When I turned to the Torah and the Joseph narratives I found something so blatantly obvious that I am not sure how I missed it before.
Material well being is the cause of Jews leaving the land of Israel and money is how we rise to power and gain status in the Diaspora.
Think about it- I know that the descent to Egypt was part of God’s plan, but in the natural world Hashem does not simply tell us- time to start the galus, Yaakov, why don’t you uproot your family and go to Egypt? God’s plan has to unfold naturally.
Yaakov and family go to Egypt because they need food.
More importantly – Joseph rise to power twice in Egypt and both times because he was financially successful.
In the house of Potiphar we are told that everything that Joseph did was successful; he was an “ish matzliach”- a successful man and therefore was elevated to the top position in the house.
Later after he comes out of jail and interprets Pharaoh’s dreams we are only told of one thing that he does in his new position. He gathers the wealth or grain of Egypt and ends up securing all of the money, cattle and land in the country for pharaoh.
It was all about the money!
How does this success affect Joseph?
It is possible to distinguish between the two episodes in Joseph’s life.
Following his rise in the house of Potiphar the Torah tells us as follows:
בראשית פרק לט
ו) וַיַּעֲזֹב כָּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ בְּיַד יוֹסֵף וְלֹא יָדַע אִתּוֹ מְאוּמָה כִּי אִם הַלֶּחֶם אֲשֶׁר הוּא אוֹכֵל וַיְהִי יוֹסֵף יְפֵה תֹאַר וִיפֵה מַרְאֶה
ז) וַיְהִי אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וַתִּשָּׂא אֵשֶׁת אֲדֹנָיו אֶת עֵינֶיהָ אֶל יוֹסֵף וַתֹּאמֶר שִׁכְבָה עִמִּי
The Torah tells us:
- Joseph was in charge of everything, top of the ladder.
- He was beautiful, a seemingly extra and unnecessary piece of information
- “And it was after these things- that potifar’s wife came to proposition Joseph.
There is an implied connection between Joseph’s rise and the attempted seduction.
What is that connection?
The Midrash tanchuma- in a striking piece of commentary argues that
רבינו בחיי בראשית פרק לט פסוק ז
ובמדרש: (תנחומא וישב ח) כיון שראה יוסף את עצמו בטובה הזאת, התחיל לאכול ולשתות, והיה מסלסל בשערו, ואמר: ברוך המקום שהשכיחני מבית אבי. אמר לו הקב”ה: אביך מתאבל עליך ואתה מסלסל בשערך, הרי אדונתך מזדווגת לך ומצירה לך
Once Josef saw himself living the good life he began to eat and drink and play with his hair and he said to himself “thank you God for throwing me out of my fathers house!”. To that God says, down you go!
What a powerful midrash- Josef got caught up in the material trappings of the Diaspora and abandoned his father’s house and tradition and thus the downfall began.
Following the rise in the house of Pharaoh I believe that a different Josef emerges- Joseph has achieved success on a national level, he has risen to the top, he basically controls the country, and the question we ask is- does he abandon God here as well.
The answer can be clearly seen from his conduct with his brothers. When he finally reveals himself the brothers are understandably nervous and afraid that Joseph will take revenge and torture or kill them.
What does Joseph say or do?
Next week we will read-
Genesis chapter 45
5. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here; for God did send me before you to preserve life.
- For these two years has the famine been in the land; and yet there are five years, when there shall neither be plowing nor harvest.
- And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
Joseph now understands that:
- This is all part of God’s plan
- Hashem did not empower Joseph in order for him to punish his brothers
- Rather Joseph is enriched and empowered in order to ensure that continuity of the Jewish people, or then the house of Jacob.
Joseph understands that having money is not an end in it of itself- you have money to enjoy it and live the good life, instead it is a means to an end- it is a privilege and a responsibility- you must use your wealth to further the mission of Israel.
Hold up the mirror let us ask ourselves, do we understand that? This is an issue that Joseph struggled with in Egypt, the Hellenists and Hasmoneans fought about some 2100 years ago and it is an issue that we struggle with today here in America and throughout the world.
Are we so enamored with our wealth and the material that we value it more than the traditions of our ancestors or
Do we appreciate and understand that we need to use our wealth within the context of doing God’s will?
When we talk about Jews and money- that is the question!
