Learning Rabbi Sacks zt'zl 'Lessons in Leadership', available here https://amzn.to/33At9JM
Read the full essay here: https://rabbisacks.org/mikketz-5781/#_ftn3
1. He dreamed dreams.
2. He could interpret the dreams of others.
3. He come implement the dreams and bring them to fruition.
As we learn, let's consider:
- What is your biggest dream? (or pick your biggest two dreams)
- What could it mean for the world if you realised it?
- What is holding you back from implementing your dream, and what is one step you can take to make it happen?
(32) As for Pharaoh having had the same dream twice, it means that the matter has been determined by God, and that God will soon carry it out.
(כ) וַיְהִ֣י ׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֗י י֚וֹם הֻלֶּ֣דֶת אֶת־פַּרְעֹ֔ה וַיַּ֥עַשׂ מִשְׁתֶּ֖ה לְכָל־עֲבָדָ֑יו וַיִּשָּׂ֞א אֶת־רֹ֣אשׁ ׀ שַׂ֣ר הַמַּשְׁקִ֗ים וְאֶת־רֹ֛אשׁ שַׂ֥ר הָאֹפִ֖ים בְּת֥וֹךְ עֲבָדָֽיו׃
40:12מ׳:י״ב
פתרונו פירושו ולא מצאנו מלת פתרון כי אם עם החלום:
יש שואלים מאין ידע יוסף כי שלשה שריגים הם ימים ולא חדשים או שנים. ויתכן יום הלדת את פרעה כמו היום שנולד בו כי הנה היום יש מלכים שיעשו משתה ביום תקופת שנתם ויקראו לכל עבדיהם ויתנו להם מתנות או יתכן שהגבירה היתה הרה והראשון קרוב
(Quoting an Egyptian text from the reign of King Djoser (ca 28th Century BCE):
"I was in distress on the Great Throne, and those who are in the palace were in heart's affliction from a very great evil, since the Nile had not come in my time for a space of seven years. Grain was scant, fruits were dried up, and everything which they eat was short.
"Most people overestimate what they can do in a year and underestimate what they can do in two or three decades".
Tony Robbins
(ויקרא כה, ל) אע"פ שאין לו עכשיו והיה לו קודם לכן: ויהי בימי אחשורוש אמר רבי לוי ואיתימא רבי יונתן דבר זה מסורת בידינו מאנשי כנסת הגדולה כל מקום שנאמר ויהי אינו אלא לשון צער ויהי בימי אחשורוש (אסתר א, א) הוה המן ויהי בימי שפוט השופטים (רות א, א) הוה רעב ויהי כי החל האדם לרוב (בראשית ו, א) וירא יהוה כי רבה רעת האדם (בראשית ו, ה) ויהי בנסעם מקדם (בראשית יא, ב) הבה נבנה לנו עיר
The opening verse of the Megilla states: “And it came to pass [vayhi] in the days of Ahasuerus” (Esther 1:1). Rabbi Levi said, and some say that it was Rabbi Yonatan who said: This matter is a tradition that we received from the members of the Great Assembly. Anywhere that the word vayhi is stated, it is an ominous term indicating nothing other than impending grief, as if the word were a contraction of the words vai and hi, meaning woe and mourning. The Gemara cites several proofs corroborating this interpretation. “And it came to pass [vayhi] in the days of Ahasuerus” led to grief, as there was Haman. “And it came to pass [vayhi] in the days when the judges ruled” (Ruth 1:1) introduces a period when there was famine. “And it came to pass [vayhi], when men began to multiply” (Genesis 6:1) is immediately followed by the verse: “And the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth” (Genesis 6:5). “And it came to pass [vayhi] as they journeyed from the east” (Genesis 11:2) is followed by: “Come, let us build us a city” (Genesis 11:4), which led to the sin of the Tower of Babel.
(ב) יתרו. שֶׁבַע שֵׁמוֹת נִקְרְאוּ לוֹ: רְעוּאֵל, יֶתֶר, יִתְרוֹ, חוֹבָב, חֶבֶר, קֵינִי, פּוּטִיאֵל; יֶתֶר, עַל שֵׁם שֶׁיִּתֵּר פָּרָשָׁה אַחַת בַּתּוֹרָה
(2) יתרו JETHRO — He was called by seven names: Reuel, Jether, Jethro, Hobab, Heber, Keni and Putiel. He was called Jether (from יִתֵּר “to add”) because he added (it was through him that there was added) a section to the Torah;
(א) ואתה תחזה. בְּרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ שֶׁעָלֶיךָ: (ב) אנשי חיל. עֲשִׁירִים, שֶׁאֵין צְרִיכִין לְהַחֲנִיף וּלְהַכִּיר פָּנִים (שם): (ג) אנשי אמת. אֵלּוּ בַּעֲלֵי הַבְטָחָה, שֶׁהֵם כְּדַאי לִסְמֹךְ עַל דִּבְרֵיהֶם, שֶׁעַל יְדֵי כֵן יִהְיוּ דִבְרֵיהֶם נִשְׁמָעִין:
(1) ואתה תחזה MOREOVER THOU SHALT PROVIDE through the Holy Spirit that is upon thee (Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 18:21:1), (2) אנשי חיל MEN OF ABILITY (but חיל may mean “wealth” and in this sense the words would mean) — rich men who will not need to flatter or to show favour (cf. Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 18:21:1).
Dream dreams, understand and articulate the dreams of others, and find ways of turning a dream into a reality - these three gifts are leadership, the Joseph way"
Rabbi Sacks, Lessons in Leadership, (Maggid Books & The Orthodox Union: Jerusalem, 2015) p50.
Rabbi Sacks: Torah as a process of transformation.
1. Where are you being called to lead?
2. What is the next step?
3. What resources or resourcefulness do you need to make it happen?