In this week's Torah portion we read about Joseph, who is wrongly imprisoned at Potiphar's wife's claims that he was trying to seduce her, when in actual fact it was the absolute reverse!
He was flung in jail by the corrupt Egyptian regime. Therefore it would have seemed natural for him and perfectly understandable if he would have hated Pharoah's butler and baker, who were flung in jail with him.
But once again, the absolute opposite occured. Joseph even inquired about their welfare, having seen they were perturbed and at severe unrest by their mystic dreams; which Joseph proceeded to interpret.
And it was this that saved his life and set the balls rolling in what has become Jewish history that was set in motion way back then and continues until this very day.
By having interpreted their dreams, the butler knew he was good at interpreting dreams in general, which came in handy when Pharoah had his own troubling dream 2 years later.
It was this one act of kindness that got Joseph rescued from jail and enabled salvation for him and his brothers later on during the famine.
We see from this that we must never underestimate what one act of kindness can do. We are told in the Talmud that good deeds is one of three things that keep the world in existence.
We also see from this episode that we must instigate this. Many people will respond to requests; but it is far better to be the instigator. I have personally experienced many times when I have been a guest in a synagogue or a Jewish community the numerous offers of hospitality and assistance that were offered to me without any action on my part.
This is what we learn from Joseph and this is how we should strive to act in inter-personal relationships.
Shabbat Shalom!
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