Amongst the many ills that plague our current cultural moment, the desire for vengeance and a settling of the score with our perceived enemies stands out as it has for millennia. In this week’s portion, Vayechi, Joseph’s brothers continue to express concern that, despite assurances, Joseph will seek revenge for their past treatment of him. They even put words into their deceased father’s mouth (Jacob), insinuating that he, too, hoped for Joseph’s forgiveness. Joseph answers consistently as earlier: You are not to blame, for God put me on the path to a position which would save our people. For the brothers part, our tradition characterizes their “white lie” about Jacob’s recommendation as necessary for the sake of peace, with the assumption that such a lesson resonates today. And whether Joseph’s response reflects the psychological dynamic necessary for his forgiveness, or that, indeed, he saw God’s “hand” on the rudder of destiny, both motivations provide potent inspiration to transcend the momentary but fleeting satisfaction borne of vengeance for the enduring and more transformative power of reconciliation.
