Autonomy
A Message for Parashat VaYeshev 2017
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The formative years of Yosef’s life were
structured by dreams. Dreams played a significant role in both the difficult and
fortunate times of his early years. Whereas his youthful dreams caused his
descent to Egypt, his later interpretations of dreams lifted him out of jail
and into Pharaoh’s palace. Any attempt to understand the life of Yosef, then,
must begin with a careful analysis of his associations with dreams.
Yosef first became involved with dreams when
he recounted his own visions to his brothers. He twice told his brothers about
his dreams of majesty and grandeur. Yosef’s recollections incensed the
brothers, and fueled their hatred and sale of him to Egypt.
Yosef’s next affiliation with dreams came in
prison, as an interpreter for two of Pharaoh’s ministers. Predicting the
cupbearer’s good fortune, Yosef begged him: “But if you remember I was with you
once it goes well for you, do me the kindness, please, to mention me to Pharaoh
and bring me out of this house” (40:14). Yosef’s hopes of good fortune from
dreams, however, were again dashed: “But the cupbearer did not remember Yosef,
no, he forgot him” (40:23). Although Yosef’s association with dreams had twice
inspired hope, it seemed that it was instead destined to bring him only sorrow.
And then it all changed. Acting on the advice
of his cupbearer, Pharaoh invited Yosef to interpret his two dreams. As I
review the story of Yosef every year, I pause at this juncture to imagine what
Yosef should have been thinking when he stepped into the inner chambers
of Pharaoh’s palace. It would have made sense for him to be frightened stiff.
Each of his previous involvements with dreams had ended in disappointment. Why
would this time be any different? But somehow it was. In an unexpected twist,
Yosef’s third and final involvement with dreams were the key to his success.
What changed? Was Yosef’s catapult to the head of Egypt the simple result of
God’s “chosen” time, or did Yosef do something at this point to alter the
outcome?
* * * *
Best-selling author Daniel Pink took
notice of how the greatest artists of the last hundred years worked. Analyzing
the success of Pablo Picasso, Georgia O’Keefe and Jackson Pollock, Pink
realized that nobody had told them with whom to paint, what sort of pictures to
paint, when to paint them, or how to paint them. The very idea of a forced art
is ludicrous. Pink stretched that conception further, and argued that every
career functions best when it is invested with autonomy. He argued
that we all crave some sense of autonomy and we therefore produce best in its
atmosphere. Presuming that we actually want to be accountable, our
control over the task, time, technique and team are the most effective pathway
to that destination.[1]
* * * *
Yosef stepped into Pharaoh’s room empowered
by a bold sense of autonomy. Sensing that Pharaoh had placed hope in his
ability to interpret dreams, Yosef determined that he could now voice more than
just a prediction. In contrast to his previous two encounters with dreams, when
Yosef depended upon the reaction of others – his brothers and the cupbearer,
this time he seized control of the situation. Transitioning swiftly from
his prediction of seven impending years of famine in Egypt, Yosef handed
Pharaoh some unsolicited advice:
And so, let Pharaoh look out for a discerning, wise man and
set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this: appoint overseers for the
land… (41:33-4)
This time the outcome would be different. No
longer dependent upon the whim of others, Yosef grabbed his destiny by the arm
and ran with it.
* * * *
Perhaps it’s time to toss the very word “management” onto the
linguistic ash heap alongside “icebox” and “horseless carriage.” This era
doesn’t call for better management. It calls for a renaissance of
self-direction. (Daniel Pink)
Much of the success in our lives depends upon
a healthy sense of autonomy. Dream big and take control.
Shabbat shalom!
Rabbi Avi Harari
[1] Daniel H. Pink, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us (New York, NY, 2009), pg.
105-6.