Inspiring Righteousness

Parshat Vayeshev
Yosef "HaTzaddik" (the righteous) is a moniker unique to Yosef in all of Biblical history and Jewish folklore – others may be called righteous and may even have the term "tzaddik" used to describe them. But Yosef stands alone. Avraham is called "God's beloved." Yaakov is called the "Man of Truth." Moshe is called "Rabbenu" – our Master, our Teacher. None are known as "the tzaddik."

What makes Yosef unique is that when faced with the ultimate test, the ultimate challenge for a young, vigorous, hot-blooded male, he ran away, refused to succumb, and taught us a lesson for all time.

His choice of action is so incredibly hard to believe, that the midrash speaks of a woman who asked Rabbi Yosi, "Is it possible that the 17 year old virile Yosef did not succumb to her advances?"

In response, Rabbi Yosi read to her of Reuven with Bilha, and of Yehuda with Tamar. "If the Torah did not hide the failures of these great ones who lived in their father's home," he asked, "why would the Torah hide the truth of the younger one who was all by himself?"

The Yalkut Shimoni (39:146) gives a number of possibilities as to what caused the house to be empty – a pagan holiday, the Nile overflowing, a trip to the theater, a day of rest during which Yosef was working overtime.

There are a number of suggestions as to what caused Yosef to be there alone (aside from putting in overtime): he was reviewing things he had studied with his father; he had legitimate work to do; some suggest Yosef intended to sin with her.

What caused Yosef to withdraw from the temptation is similarly up for debate. Rabbi Chiya says he saw a vision of his father, while Rabbi Huna says it was a vision of his mother. A third opinion suggests he was about to commit the sinful deed, when God Himself appeared to him in the image of his father. She noticed his hesitation and asked him about it. He said "I see my father." She said, "Where? There is no man here!" He answered, "You are the daughter of donkeys, of whom the flesh of other donkeys is their flesh, but they have no vision (based on Yechezkel 23:20). I am of Seers – Abraham "saw" the "place" (which refers to God) (Bereshit 22) from a distance. [This is why I can see my father, while you cannot.]"

The Midrash further presents a conspiracy that sent him to prison.

"When [Potiphar’s wife’s] friends returned home, they asked her, 'Why does your face look so disappointed?' She told them everything and they said, 'You'll have no rest until you make up a tale and have [Yosef] incarcerated.' They all agreed to tell their husbands that Yosef had similarly approached all of them to commit a sin."

"Thus, all of Potiphar's officers came to his courtyard and told him about Yosef's escapades. When Potiphar wanted to kill him, she told him not to, but to put Yosef in prison – in order not to squander the money he had spent on purchasing the slave. He still wanted to kill Yosef, until Osnat, his natural or adopted daughter, came to him privately and told him the truth (there hadn't been a "man" in the house, but she was in the house and saw everything).

"God immediately declared that since she gave Yosef merits in the face of his master, she would be the one to merit to bring his 'shvatim/tribes' (Ephraim and Menashe) into the world."

This tale, as depicted, teaches all of us individualized lessons.

Men are enjoined against putting themselves in the precarious position of being tempted. The Talmud (Yoma 35b) reminds us that Yosef is the model of overcoming temptation. Anyone who claims their desire overcame them is asked by a heavenly court if they were more tempted and more desired than Yosef was by Mrs. Potiphar. He was strong enough to resist when he saw his mother, father or God. How many could resist in such a circumstance – absolutely desired, with the promise that "no one will ever know"? How many ignore what their parents or God might think?

Married women are enjoined against becoming the object of desire. Mrs. Potiphar knew that even in immoral Egypt were it discovered that she approached Yosef she'd suffer the consequences of her infidelities, with a "Hebrew slave," no less. Proper steps must be taken to avoid being viewed provocatively by men who are not your husband.

Singles are also challenged to recognize that the drive we are talking about is the most powerful in human nature. And, according to Jewish law, it is to be exercised with the right person, at the right time – with your spouse, after Huppah and Kiddushin (the sanctified marriage bond). We must also do our part to protect others from being tempted by our own intentional and unintentional advances.

Yosef is a tzaddik because he was tempted and may even have been on the verge of sin. But at the last moment he was ready to withdraw, run away, even embarrass himself in this world, to be able to declare always "I saw the Evil Inclination and looked him straight in the eye. And I won." [See a similar tale in the wide lines of Kiddushin 81a]