Miketz: The Light of True Leadership - פרשת מקץ : האור של מנהיגות אמיתית

Notes: Zoom out to the metaphysical first. This is parashat Miketz. It is the tenth parsha of the torah. ok. Now Let’s count the words of this first pasuk. Ten words. Ok, interesting enough that it is calling our attention to the number ten. The tenth Parsha of the Torah begins with a pasuk that has ten words, and we know that ten is a significant number, like a minyan and the commandments, a number that signifies completion of order. (source: Gal Einai) So we have this hint of a completion, well we are in the book of Genesis, the book of the beginning and of creation, and this completion is of the first order, a completion of the nature of things.

So let's look at a source for the number ten, to go a little deeper.

English

"Parshat Mikeitz is the tenth parshah in the Torah. About the tenth there is a verse that says: “The tenth will be dedicated in holiness to God.” Regarding the ten sefirot, Sefer Yetzirahsays that ”the end [the tenth sefirah] is enwedged in the beginning [the first sefirah].” This is a general principle for every enumerated group in the Torah: the tenth is always connected back to the first. Thus, there are a number of examples that clearly link parshat Mikeitz, the tenth parshah, with parshat Bereisheet, the first parshah."

Yitzchak Ginsburgh

Notes: And what are we talking about from this completion of nature: a dream. A dream of an important man. A dream that he couldn’t understand but understood enough to know it was essential and worth interpreting.

Why would a dream be the subject matter that begins a new phase, after completion? And we are in Kislev, the month of dreams, the holiday season, the times for dreams and its no coincidence at all that we read this parsha on Chanukah.

So we can come up with ideas, of which surely there’s immediate plenty, but we can also turn to the numbers.

The gematria of Pharoah Chalam + Galut.

Look at the Gematria (Sourced Below)

*What is Galut?

Galut is being asleep relative to existence within a higher reality. And the Torah purports to be of infinite wisdom. I, personally, have come to understand this as true. But this belief is irrelevant. Whats relevant is that this applies ad infinitum. There is always a higher reality. So what does that mean then? That we are always stuck in a state of Galut then? Could be. Or we can awaken via an interaction with light that is based on true leadership.

Now how will we wake up from this bad dream of exile? Rumour has it a true leader will have something to do with it. Ok.

Notes: What is true leadership

Do what know what is true leadership in our world? The history books, even if they are to be believed at face value, are annals of chaos and greed. And what of today, with polarity being the norm and, if you take a real look, with confusion being the norm.

What is it not? This is something I think about a lot, when I consider analysis of the state of the world.

Mention the book The March of Folly and introduce the concept of her analysis.

English

“A phenomenon noticeable throughout history regardless of place or period is the pursuit by governments of policies contrary to their own interests. Mankind, it seems, makes a poorer performance of government than of almost any other human activity. In this sphere, wisdom, which may be defined as the exercise of judgment acting on experience, common sense and available information, is less operative and more frustrated than it should be. Why do holders of high office so often act contrary to the way reason points and enlightened self-interest suggests? Why does intelligent mental process seem so often not to function?”

― Barbara W. Tuchman, The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam

Notes: ;* Now lets get back to the story.
In order to stay focused on our points, we won’t even get into the dream. We will just understand that Pharaoh had a dream that he understood mattered, and he wanted to solve its meaning. And we will understand that Joseph was called to interpret the dream, bc the wine chief remembered him now. Joseph interpreted it by explaining what would happen to land of Egypt in the next 14 years, where there will be seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine. He then takes initiate and gives Pharoah strategy for how to successfully handle this situation that will soon come. And pharoah recognises the wisdom of his strategy.

This is a story of successful leadership. And I see less reason to focus on Gods helping hand in it, bc that is either understood by any individual as a constant truth or it is doubt, or it is disregarded completely, and this story is rich with truth either way. And this book the bible is a very popular one in any case, and been so for a long time. Its a part of our human consciousness at the very least. So what is going on here? It's worth a look.

I see more reason to focus on the decision making strategy of the people in this story and the way it played out to their success. Let's take a good look at the reality of the way Pharoah handled things and also at the character and ultimate leadership role of Joseph and find the leadership qualities in them.

Notes:

We can meditate directly on the Pshat

Leadership Quality #1: Step Aside

Let’s look at Pharoah first. A grand leader who stepped aside for the sake of his people. Out of a true desire for results that will benefit his people. As that is what true leadership is all about anyway: the benefit for all.

He had a dream and he was conscious enough to recognise that it mattered, and that understanding it mattered. And in order to understand, for the sake of true clarity, he was willing to step aside, from his own authority, from established ways of doing things.

Notes: And we see Pharoah having to deal with manoeuvring reality to accommodate such a bold move. Like a true leader he is employing genius strategy, and that is not always easy to make coherent to others. But a true leader doesn’t tire at the daunting task of introducing something new. We see in the that he addresses the men of his court:

He is rationalising with them, calling on them to present a present a strategy, and if they can’t then to consider adopting this novel way of doing things. And how is he rationalising with them? He is daring them to present someone who can better showcase the spirit of truth. He is advocating truth. Not grandeur. Not lineage. Not a degree. Nothing. A prisoner from who knows where! But look at his truth!

Notes: How can we interpret “the spirit of god in him” in a way that isn’t loaded with all the clutter of what god has come to mean today. Simply, truth. Pharaoh is saying I see the spirit of truth in you. He is recognising the power of true clarity and he is choosing clarity over ego trips.

And who did Pharoah step aside for. Who is this leader of essence and not of masks that Pharaoh recognized?

Where did this quintessential leader come from at the start of our story? From the most basic personal exile: prison. He was sitting in prison. He was a prisoner. That was his identity. And now Pharaoh calls him to interpret a dream. Let's look at the pasuk again: he was literally called from the dungeon. He came out of a dungeon.

English

Leadership Quality #2: True Identity
What is true identity? True identity is truth identity is non identity...

So who showed up? A prisoner? Five minutes ago he was in a prison, but no. (Read same pasuk)

This includes an ability to truly let go of any limiting identity. Cut your hair and change your clothes and appear as your new role.

Now how can you successfully do this? Does it mean standing infront of a mirror and saying “I am now a powerful man” and identifying with your new clothes?

On the contrary. What is the next pasuk?

He can do this because he is aware of true identity in all his roles, and that none are worth attachment to. Not I but God will answer you can also mean, its just the truth that will be presented here, once you leave the reactivity to perceived roles!

Notes : Further meditation on the pshat that showcases the affirmation of these leadership qualities:
He is saying, since you are aligned with Truth, and truth is what I want, then you are the top fitting contender for this role.
You shall be in charge of my court. It’s still his court. And he is truly running it. How? By putting truth completely in charge. Where does his superiority stand? Just in him allowing himself to still be who he is. A Pharaoh on a throne. But truth is openly in charge. He knows who he is. He’s truly secure. He’s Pharoah. And because of that he let go of power and give it over to the effectivity of truth.

And he did it quickly. What does it mean to do something quickly? It means you’re free from games. There’s no subconscious ego problem that you need to act out at a cost of time or misspent labor. He did it completely and quickly.

And to refocus on Joseph now, this person whose essence is truthful leadership. He was 30 when he entered this role, and eventually he became the leader that he became, in his presence, outside of the presence of Pharaoh, amongst the Egyptians. And to skip forward in the story, to where eventually his brothers came up to Egypt, like everyone else, because of the famine, and on display in the story are many more admirable leadership qualities of Yoseph, now when he is in power. To take but one, of many that are worthy of being discussed at length but this is just a ten minute talk:

Notes: He cried. He lost control. The essence of true leadership lost control. Why would this be a blatant part of the essence of true leadership? Because it is. Because its true character. True feelings. Its no pretense.
He isn’t lost to a fantasy of revenge. He is aligned with the real emotion of love.

Notes: True leadership has the ripple effect of affecting the entire world. Of changing the whole world.

And the thing that I believe is there is always a macrocosm of the microcosm. This applies not just in leadership in our surroundings, but this applies within us in our own leadership of what occurs within us and the ripple effect will be in our personal world. Are we finding the courage to appoint the truest thought as the leader of our behaviour and actions, or are we going to go down a worthless damaging role instead.

Notes: The light that Yosef shed on Phaaroash dreams is the light of Chanuka, the hidden light of creation and the light of redemption. Its the lights of redemption that we allow when we allow true leadership, within our own selves, and in our engagement with society. English