
Did someone do wrong to you or your family, and now you go out of your way to avoid them? Does hearing their name or seeing them trigger negative responses and anger? Violence? I understand because I am the same. Can we be like Joseph in the bible? Do we want to be? This week’s Bible portion shows how Joseph reacted to his brother’s evil. Joseph and his brothers return from burying their father, Jacob. Joseph stops at the pit that his brothers had thrown him into. His brothers become frightened, saying: “What if Joseph will hate us, and will pay us back the evil which we did to him?” Genesis 50:15 Joseph did not seek vengeance. He weeps and reassures them: “Don’t be afraid. Am I instead of G-d? You intended evil but G-d meant it for good…” Genesis 50:19-20. How could Joseph get past his pain without holding a grudge against his brothers? I have experienced evil acts by others, and I am sure you did too. But no matter how bad it was, you likely weren’t sold into slavery…