Many folks are intrigued by an unsolved murder case. Not only do we want justice to be served on behalf of the victim, but we want to know how it was possible for the murderer to get away with it in the first place. The Torah deals with complications in murder cases, including questions that can ensue if a victim is found between two locales and it is unclear in which court the trial should be held.
It is interesting to note that in this week’s Torah portion, Vayigash, when Joseph’s brothers go home to tell Jacob that Joseph is still alive, Joseph sends wagons along to carry their load. The word “wagon” in Hebrew, agalah, has a double meaning. Not only does it mean “wagon,” it also means “calf.” Joseph’s clever use of the double meaning was a hint to his father that he still recalled the last learning session he had with him, which was about an unsolved murder, the court’s findings, and the responsibility to provide a calf offering.
When Jacob saw the agalah he instantly understood its double meaning and he said that Joseph had bested him. It is one thing to be impressed that Joseph remembered the topic of their last study session, but why did Jacob say he felt that Joseph was better than he?
To appreciate Jacob’s comment, we need to take a step back and recap the ongoing argument between Joseph and his brothers. The brothers felt that in order to stay true to Judaism, it was safer to do so in the comforts of one’s own environs. Don’t leave your own safety zone, your own community. Don’t venture outside, lest you get lost in the large world out there since they don’t have the tools to overcome its temptations. Joseph argued that when one is connected to G-d, one should not be worried about the temptations of the world, but just the opposite, one should utilize the world and benefit from the world for the purpose of serving G-d.
Jacob, in his heart, knew that Joseph was right, although he recognized that it is the more difficult path. Jacob’s gift to Joseph, the coat of many colors—representing the colors of the world—hinted to his agreement to this approach.
When Joseph sent the wagons, he sent a double message. The lesson of the unsolved murder was not only about finding out who the killer was, but about teaching the community that they had a responsibility to step in and ask how this could happen in their midst. He taught, “We have to be on top of our game. This is a sign that something is wrong with our community, we did not protect the victim. As a whole, each and every member of our community needs to know that it is not enough to live in the community, but they have to do more. If someone is in need, you cannot look the other way; each and every one of us is responsible for providing protection. This innocent victim was not provided this simple necessity.”
Joseph was sending his father a message: “Not only did I survive in Egypt as a Jew, but I am thriving here as well. I am going to look out for you and the family. I understand that my role is not just to make do, but to do my best.”
Jacob admits that Joseph bested him. During their years of separation, all that he was able to do was survive. The pain of their separation was too great to handle, but he knew that it was not enough to survive; in truth, he had to thrive.
This is the valuable lesson that Joseph teaches all of us—that even under the most challenging circumstances, we must do our best to thrive.
Truthfully, this is easier said than done. Not all of us are Josephs, but to put in the effort to try is a worthwhile endeavor.