A young Joseph relates one of his prophetic dreams to his eleven brothers: “Behold, we were binding sheaves in the midst of the field and lo, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and behold your sheaves came around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” (37:7). One of many questions that can be asked on this dream is – what is the significance of the fact that Yosef’s sheaf not only arose but “also stood upright”? Is there a distinct message in this added phrase?
Rabbi Shmuel Borenstein, a noted rabbi in Poland in the late nineteenth century/early twentieth century and author of the Biblical commentary Shem MiShmuel, took note of this seemingly superfluous phrase. He correlated it with a line in Psalms: “Who will go up to the mountain of God and who will stand in His holy place?” (24:3). Rabbi Borenstein explained that both lines point to the idea that it is one thing to achieve a distinct level of spirituality, but it is another, deeper challenge to maintain that level of accomplishment. Human nature prompts us to constantly grow and change; it is no simple feat, then, to maintain a high level of religious devotion despite the changes we experience in age, attitude, ability, and interests. Joseph’s dream, then, hinted at one of his great strengths – his incredible constancy in spiritual conviction and in moral behavior, despite the vicissitudes he faced.
This insight on the verse has tremendous relevance for us all. In our marriages, as parents, in our professional lives, as devoted volunteers, in our spiritual lives, and in other spheres we may find that our concerted efforts and diligence yield moments of accomplishment. These achievements are indeed worth celebrating. But the greater challenge lies is insuring that our accomplishments remain constant and are not eroded by our human frailties.
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