Yosef & “The Spies”

As always, what is about to follow is just my opinion, based on studying the Holy Books, and my understanding of the verses. With your permission, let’s get right to it.

In Parashat Miketz 42:9 says: “Josef recalled the dreams that he had about them(the brothers). He said to them, "You are spies! You have come to see where the land is exposed."

What just happened? Yosef HaTzaddik has accused his brothers of being spies, and I believe this is where a whole new story is being unfolded.

The brothers denied the accusations. Later, they brought Benyamin, and eventually they all immigrated to Egypt with their families. One may think that the story is over.

But hold on, Yosef HaTzaddik has made an accusation, do you think it’s all forgotten? I believe this action has led to many events to unfold over the centuries. Please allow me to get a bit more specific. 

Were the brothers spies? No, not at all. They entered Egypt through ten gates to find Yosef; later, they were caught in a bad neighborhood while looking for him. They had good intentions. 

This begs the question: if you look at Jewish history, why has Hashem given us, their descendants, so much trouble over the centuries?

Yosef had accused the brothers, but he was trying to make his dreams a reality, deliberately taking steps to bring about the events he had seen in his dreams.

In the same way, when Miriam, out of concern for Tziporah, asked about Moshe Rabbenu, Hashem considered it as Lashon Hara and punished Miriam for this sin. Yosef HaTzaddik took it to the next level, knowing the future from his dreams, he tried to bring the events to fruition, made this one big plan, and accused his brothers.

But Hashem has brought the accusations into reality.

In Parashat Shelach, the twelve tribes sent out an expedition to spy out the Land. It was a failed mission, since they came back and slandered the Land for which that generation had paid dearly. But when they asked for Hashem's permission, Hashem told them, "Send for yourself." An interesting way to answer.

Ever since the sale of Yosef, the nation has felt its aftereffect—this event has always been on the nation’s conscience—something they have always wanted to fix.

That's why Hashem said, "Send for yourself. He meant, send for your own good, definitely try to fix this sin, since this sin must be fixed, and this sin is not going anywhere, unless it is fixed. Let Me see how you will do it."

The spies failed miserably; all the males aged 20-50 were punished. (Parashat Shelach)

But it wasn't enough.

Centuries later, ten great sages were brutally tortured and executed by the Romans to atone for the sin of the brothers.

But it is still not enough.

At that moment, it was also decreed that ten religious Jews will be murdered every year till the end of times, as it says in Yalkut Shimoni on Proverbs, as mentioned in the Book of Meam Lo'ez.

But it is still not enough.

The situation with Bar Kamtza was also an atonement for Yosef and the Brothers, which ended badly for everyone involved (Talmud, Taanit 19b, The Rejected Trio).

But it is still not enough.

Since the sin wasn't atoned through all these mentioned situations above, Hashem found a different way to fix it, please refer to the essay called: The Rejected Trio, where the members of the nation will be put through situations of infertility, and men dying early with no children, and then either Levirate Marriage or Khalitza process will take place, and all the pain and suffering that stem from all of these situations, will serve as an atonement of that sin.

The above would be enough, you would think, but no.. Hold your horses, we are not done yet.

Since then, over the centuries, Hashem has put the Jewish nation through many false accusations:

- The death of Jesus, this belief, known as deicide, became a powerful justification for antisemitism.
- In ancient times, Jews were often blamed for various societal issues, including plagues and economic troubles.
- Blood Libel: Jews were falsely accused of murdering Christian children to use their blood in religious rituals. This myth led to violence and massacres.
- Causing the Black Death: During the 14th-century plague, Jews were scapegoated and accused of poisoning wells, resulting in widespread persecution.
- Economic Accusations: Excluded from many professions, Jews often became moneylenders, leading to stereotypes of greed and exploitation.
- Conspiracy Theories: In the 19th and 20th centuries, Jews were often depicted as part of a global conspiracy to control governments and economies.
- Zionism and Ani-Zionism: The establishment of the State of Israel led to accusations against Jews of being responsible for conflicts in the Middle East, often framed in antisemitic terms.

And all the trouble above was because Yosef wanted the dreams to come true. 

Each person is the head of a family-tribe, and just as Yosef and the brothers, these people put their children and descendants in harm’s way.

Miriam talked about Moshe Rabbenu out of concern for Tziporah. Yosef accused the brothers because he was trying to bring the events of the dream to come about. And there we are, with our justifications, working daily on a man-made verbal mess. The mess that probably spread out of control for many, with daily consequences for the other parties to deal with.

And only G-d stands by it all, and brings them and the descendants of all the parties involved throughout the world, to the bitter situations they have themselves created, by simply talking.

Makes one uneasy, doesn’t it?

So, what have you been spreading lately?

Shmuel Katanov