Dearest Kith & Kin: Looking over our history during the most ‘recent’ long & tiring Galut (exile – diaspora – captivity), including our many miscellaneous ‘positions’ in the service of respective governments, our tireless vicarious attempts at charitable social-welfare outreach, the countless uprisings against us by the general population (particularly during their times of economic depression), and the almost countless expulsions (official & unofficial) wherein we were further uprooted from home, livelihood, and our thriving Torah & Community infrastructure institutions → by “virtue” of the greed & jealousy of local officialdom & aristocracy ⇒ PERHAPS it behooves us to pay attention to An Incident that occurred to our ancestors (and thus to us) in Ancient Egypt; and finally – at least to learn from it – how we may better ‘survive our successes’ among the non-indigenous nations → where we have primarily been dispersed? [see “Amm” & “Amm Yisroel” in https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/personalizing-tzimtzum-tikun-olam-and-tefillah]

The Incident: Yosef interprets Pharaoh’s dreams, and explains how to traverse the impending seven years of famine by accumulation from the forthcoming seven years of abundance. Pharaoh accepts the interpretation, accepts Yosef’s proposed economic strategy, and appoints Yosef as Master Administrator – in charge of implementing the accumulation of abundance -and- the subsequent disbursal thereof. 

Why did Pharaoh appoint Yosef?

Pharaoh (after all) was raised in the best traditions of political ‘sensitivity’, and did not want to do anything that might jeopardize his wealth, status, or position; nor the comfortable lives of the establishment, aristocracy, priests, or the other privileged classes. Accordingly, IF the interpretation of Yosef is false, THEN Pharaoh gains the wealth from Yosef’s new abundance taxation -and- Yosef will be pointed to as the economic villain of the society. Likewise, IF the interpretation of Yosef proves correct, THEN (as in fact happened) Administrator Yosef’s ‘system’ elevates Pharaoh to become the lord-master & owner of virtually the entire Egyptian population, who have sold themselves into slavery (in perpetuity) in exchange for the stored grain sustenance – Which Was Originally Theirs during the years of abundance, -and- (of course) Yosef will be pointed to as the economic villain of the society. 

Thus, according to all possibilities, the Wealth, Status, and Power of Pharaoh increases, while the Hatred, Animosity, and (latent) Anger at Yosef and his family (us) will become Rabid, Visceral, and (intimately) Barbaric.

Simply, learning from this early Galut episode, we should be careful NOT to participate in any change to the workings of respective governmental administrations of our sojourning, NOT to interfere in any aspect of the local norms of economics nor of lifestyle; Lest we incur the eventual wrath of the populous ⇒ with the politically endorsed sanctions of the (always Taxing, Profiting, and Expropriating) governmental establishment! 

Looking at our own interaction with non-indigenous cultures – over the millennium, have we ever actually enjoyed a long term benefit from our “interpretations” of their future? Better for us (and for everyone) if we restrict our “suggestions” to only strengthening the Noahide Laws; since the general population (and their administrative hierarchy) shall........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)