Of Dreams: Mikeitz

my eyes fixated on the blue book resting on the tiny lecture hall foldable desk. having exerted maximum mental effort, the test was over; the flimsy pamphlet was closed. i looked up; the cavernous hall was empty. looking down, i was naked. panic ensued as i contemplated how i was going navigate through the busy campus homewards. in a cold sweat, i woke up.

joseph, joseph, what does this mean? what’s with a test when i haven’t taken one in over three decades?

fear, humiliation, panic? joseph, joseph, please explain?

joseph, in the torah portion mikeitz, famously is summoned to interpret pharoah’s dreams. did he? when the royal figure meets joseph, pharoah inquires that “i’ve heard about you, saying you hear a dream so as to tell the meaning of it,” joseph answers “not i. god will answer regarding pharaoh’s well-being.” genesis 41:15-16.

dreams blend the senses with emotion and produce mysterious results. does this mix translate into meaning, direction or predictions of the future?

as with dreams, we reach out to the world in search of answers. in doing so, we accumulate data that shapes our viewpoints and perspectives. these formulate opinions which can serve as a basis of action. further, our opinions can influence others. professionally, this can be the decision to settle a lawsuit, a diagnosis of a disease or a stock tip.

like dream interpretation, we don’t necessarily have all the answers. there is often a gap or a level of uncertainty. further, opinions’ validity can change with time.  

as humans, we grasp only a small portion of knowledge. further, some knowledge, in reality, is unobtainable. joseph understood his own limitations. anything extraordinary he knew was a gift from the creator and master of the universe. thus, he offered himself and his abilities with humility. 

thus, a message from mikeitz is that, as smart as we may think we may be, we are limited. while we should study hard and pursue knowledge, there exists a greater body of knowledge and intelligence beyond us. joseph’s comment is a reflection that there is an intelligence greater than ourselves.  

joseph, joseph, i am waiting for an answer.

be well!!

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