How can you prevent sibling rivalry? Only have one child.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Commentary on Parshat Mikeitz (5771)
"The root of human conflict is sibling rivalry: Cain and Abel, Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, and now Joseph and his brothers.
Joseph has the misfortune of being the youngest. He symbolises the Jewish condition. His brothers are older and stronger than he is. They resent his presence. They see him as a trouble maker. The fact that their father loves him only makes them angrier and more resentful. They want to kill him. In the end they get rid of him in a way that allows them to feel a little less guilty. They concoct a story that they tell their father, and they settle down to life again. They can relax. There is no Joseph to disturb their peace any more.
And now they are facing a stranger in a strange land and it simply does not occur to them that this man may be Joseph. As far as they are concerned, there is no Joseph. They don’t recognise him now. They never did. They never recognised him as one of them, as their father’s child, as their brother with an identity of his own and a right to be himself."
Summary of Parashat Mikeitz from the Union of Reform Judaism
- Joseph interprets Pharaoh's two dreams and predicts seven years of prosperity followed by seven years of famine. (41:1-32)
- Pharaoh places Joseph in charge of food collection and distribution. (41:37-49)
- Joseph marries Asenath, and they have two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. (41:50-52)
- When Joseph's brothers come to Egypt to buy food during the famine, Joseph accuses them of spying. He holds Simeon hostage while the rest of the brothers return to Canaan to retrieve Benjamin for him. (42:3-42:38)
- The brothers return to Egypt with Benjamin and for more food. Joseph continues the test, this time falsely accusing Benjamin of stealing and declaring that Benjamin must remain his slave. (43:1-44:17)
Mental Health America
"If you are being abused or neglected by your family, it can be as confusing as it is scary. Your natural reaction is to trust the people who are supposed to be caring for you, but under no circumstances is abuse acceptable. There are different types of abuse such as physical, verbal, sexual, psychological abuse, or neglect, but the bottom line is that a family member who is causing you physical or emotional harm is abusive.
You deserve to feel safe and loved. Living in an abusive situation can make you question your own sanity and instincts to the point that you may not even realize that you are a victim of abuse. But you can trust your instincts. If you do not feel safe in your home, then you are probably experiencing some form of abuse. Talk to someone you trust about what you are experiencing. If they don’t take your concerns seriously, then you need to find someone who will listen to you.
There can be a series of emotions you feel like fear, guilt, or anger when you reach out for help. You may fear that something bad will happen if you tell someone or that people will blame you for speaking up. But you need to do what is best for you: keep yourself safe and find people who support you. Reach out for help outside of your immediate family.
If you face verbal or emotional abuse, designate a safe space in your home or at a friend’s house so you can be away from the abuse. Use your words and actions to create healthy boundaries between you and your family members. For example, end a conversation or leave the room to show that you won’t tolerate the abuse. Above all else, keeping yourself safe is so important when coping with an abusive situation.
Even when you have escaped an abusive household, the trauma you experienced can still have a lasting impact. It may feel unfair for you to have to deal with the aftermath of someone else’s wrongdoing, but seeking professional help is the best thing you can do for your personal well-being. A mental health professional can help you establish healthy boundaries and develop trusting relationships with people who will support you.
Whatever you do, resist the urge to harbor and suppress your anger–eventually that anger will rear its ugly head. It’s a hard lesson to learn that family members didn’t always have your best interests at heart. But despite how abuse and neglect are designed to make you feel, you deserve every right to heal and move forward with your life."
Mental Health America (MHA) - founded in 1909 - is the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and to promoting the overall mental health of all Americans. Our work is driven by our commitment to promote mental health as a critical part of overall wellness, including prevention services for all; early identification and intervention for those at risk; integrated care, services, and supports for those who need it; with recovery as the goal.