The story of Joseph is filled with jealousy, hatred, sorrow, and despair, but there is also love, hope, and loving-kindness throughout. Joseph enters the world as the favored son of Jacob, which paints him as a target for his brothers』 animosity. His father does not help the situation when he gives Joseph the infamous coat of many colors, and Joseph finally seals his own fate through his prophetic dreams of his brothers bowing to him. All these incidents lead us to the fateful event of Joseph being sold into slavery and ending up in an Egyptian prison. Through all this, Joseph remains faithful and filled with hope.The events helped Joseph realize his own part to play in his brother’s despicable actions. Eventually, Joseph becomes second in command over all Egypt and is faced with the biggest challenge of his life. His brothers come to him and seek his mercy and help. At that moment, Joseph displays one of the greatest examples of loving-kindness in all of the Torah. He puts aside his rightful hurt feelings he should have for his brothers and decides only to test their current character. His brothers do end up displaying a profound change, and Joseph reveals his identity with joy and tears.This Biblical narrative is filled with valuable lessons, but one of the ones we can take away is that we, too, can display that same level of mercy and loving-kindness to those who have wronged us. To find forgiveness by forgiving others is God’s great gift, and this Sukkot, let’s pray for God to guide us in that pursuit.
約瑟的故事充滿了嫉妒、仇恨、悲傷和絕望，但也貫穿了希望與慈愛。約瑟出生時，是雅各的寵兒，又因著父親的寵愛，成兄弟們仇視的對象。當雅各將彩衣送給約瑟和約瑟做眾弟兄拜他的異夢時，雅各並沒有解決眾弟兄仇視約瑟的情況。這些事最終導致約瑟被賣為奴隸，以致他被關在埃及的監獄裡。儘管如此，約瑟依然對上主充滿了忠信和盼望。
這些事件幫助約瑟了解到自己在他哥哥們卑鄙行為中扮演的角色。最終，約瑟成為埃及的宰相，面臨著他一生中最大的挑戰。他的兄弟們來埃及尋求他的憐憫和幫助。在那一刻，約瑟成為了妥拉裡最有慈愛的典範之一。他放下了他對兄弟們應有的傷害感，通過考察他們現有的品格，他的兄弟們最終展現出深刻的迴轉，最終，約瑟用喜悅和淚水錶明了他的身份。
妥拉記載了非常寶貴教訓的約瑟故事，同樣，我們也能成為向那些傷害我們的人展現出憐憫、慈愛的人。藉助我們的饒恕來尋求被上主饒恕這個重要的禮物。在這個住棚節，讓我們祈求上主引領我們去追求。
關鍵詞彙
animosity：仇恨;憤怒;敵意;憎惡
fate ：命中注定的事 ; 命運的安排 ; 命運 ; 天數 ; 定數 ; 天意 ; 註定
prophetic：正確預言的 ; 有預見的 ; 預言家的 ; 像預言家的 ; 似先知的
pursuit: 追求;尋找;追趕;跟蹤;追捕;事業;消遣;愛好