There are times in life when we need to make a decision. Do we want to move forward or not? Do we seek revenge or do we seek forgiveness. Do we let our anger hold us back or do we turn it into fuel for building. Every January, the Greenport Ecumenical Ministries (GEM) holds a service to pray for religious unity and mutual understanding and dialogue. This year, in the face of national turmoil and division in our country, it was clear that this service needed to be about reconciliation, a grand ambition, even for a large group of religious ministers.
When we were first thinking of reconciliation, the story of Joseph and his brothers came to mind. When they finally meet after 22 years, Joseph says to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still well?” His brothers were dumbfounded. Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come forward to me.” And when they came forward, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. Now, do not be distressed or reproach yourselves because you sold me hither; it was to save life that God sent me ahead of you.” (Gen. 45:1-5)
The story of Joseph and his brothers is a story of hope, of course, but nowhere does the Torah tell us that Joseph forgave his brothers. Instead, he pardons them, choosing to move forward, assuring them he is not looking for revenge. The story is about getting closer again through a process — a journey toward reconciliation.
After the death of their father, Jacob, the brothers are fearful that Joseph still bears a grudge and will pay them back for the wrong they did to him. But as the story continues, Joseph was in tears when they spoke to him. They flung themselves before him, and said, “We are prepared to be your slaves.” But Joseph said to them, “Have no fear! Am I a substitute for God? Besides, although you intended me harm, God intended it for good, so as to bring about the present result — the survival of many people. (Gen. 50:18-20) Joseph called for rebuilding, not revenge, for turning bad into good.
Growing up, I thought that one could never reach reconciliation without a resolution. People who forgave their Nazi persecutors were often met with resentment. But like Joseph, they did not exonerate their adversaries, but instead decided to pardon them so they could concentrate on building a better future. Even though our actions harm others, God can convert those actions into good, if we recognize it.
To do this, we need to understand and to see the bigger picture, to believe in a cause greater than all of us. The greater idea is where we all meet and can continue to meet — our sanctuary, our Tent of Meeting. Perhaps we don’t need to seek unity, but diversity. The way to reach unity passes through diversity.
In her speech at the inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Sen. Amy Klobuchar referred to the Capitol Building as a “Temple of our democracy.” For the American project to continue to strive, we need to guard it. President Joseph Biden in his inaugural speech called us to “End the uncivil war.”
The Biblical Joseph took the first step toward reconciliation. We, too, understand it as a goal to achieve, one that marks an ongoing process, a life-long journey.
With hope,
—Rabbi Gadi Capela