The Sound of Silence That Failed Yosef

Parashat Vayeishev

In our world today, studies continue to reveal a painful truth: when people witness harm, many choose to stand aside. They watch, they hope it will pass, they convince themselves that staying silent is safe. Yet the Torah teaches us that this has always been dangerous. Standing by is not neutral. It is participation.

In Parashat Vayeishev, we encounter one of the most moving examples. Yosef, betrayed by his own brothers, sits alone in a pit — powerless, vulnerable. The Torah recounts:

“וַיַּעַבְרוּ אֲנָשִׁים מִדְיָנִים סֹחֲרִים, וַיִּמְשְׁכוּ וַיַּעֲלוּ אֶת יוֹסֵף מִן הַבּוֹר; וַיִּמְכְּרוּ אֶת יוֹסֵף לַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִים בְּעֶשְׂרִים כָּסֶף; וַיָּבִיאוּ אֶת יוֹסֵף מִצְרָיְמָה.”
(Bereishit 37:28)

Translation:
“Midianite traders passed by. They pulled Yosef up out of the pit and sold Yosef to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they brought Yosef to Egypt.”

A simple question leaps from this verse: Who is responsible? Who actually sold Yosef? Was it his brothers? The Midianites? The Ishmaelites?

The Rashbam clarifies:

“קודם שבאו הישמעאלים, עברו........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)