Joseph and Tears
In October 20, 1958 – Angelo Giuseppi Roncalli – or should we say, Angelo Joseph Roncalli - was elected Pope John XXIII. As a Vatican diplomat during the Second World War, he had aided the escape of thousands of Jews from the Nazis. After centuries of viral and bloody anti-semitism in the Catholic Church, John XXIII quickly made changes, changes that would have been unimaginable even a few years before. He removed antisemitic rhetoric from prayers and called for ground- breaking Vatican II council.
Two years after his election, the warm and beloved Pope John XXIII welcomed Jewish leaders – 130 of them – for the first time into the Vatican. Greeting his guests, Pope John XXIII quoted this week’s Torah portion VaYigash: "I am Joseph, your brother" (Genesis 45:4).
In the Torah, these words are the climax of the Joseph story. To recap– Joseph is Jacob’s favored son, young, a little pompous, with a knack for irritating his brothers, dreams of grandeur and a habit of tattling. So, when the opportunity presents itself, Joseph’s brothers throw him in a pit then sell him into slavery. In Egypt, after many years, the lowly slave boy rises to second in command of all Egypt! While Joseph saves Egypt from a terrible famine, in Canaan, Jacob and his sons are really suffering. The sons hear that there is food in Egypt and travel down there to get some provisions. And, low and behold, they appear before none other than Joseph. Joseph has changed so that they don’t recognize him. Besides, how could the boy they sold into slavery rise to such a post.
Joseph tests his brothers. Have they really changed? Are they really different? He sets up a series of trials for them in order to assess their growth. When Joseph is finally convinced that they are changed, he turns to his brothers and says through tears, “I am Joseph.”
Joseph’s tears are a watershed event. In the words of Rabbi Ziona Zelaso,“All the years of hurt and resentment seem to melt away, by tears.”
Joseph becomes a role model for leading with emotion. Today, we know the medical benefits of tears. Studies have shown that tears excrete stress hormones and other toxins which accumulate during anxiety. Crying also stimulates the production of endorphins, our body’s natural pain killer.
Joseph, the second in command of Egypt, cries more than anybody else in the Torah – a total of seven times. As we experience Joseph’s story, we watch a young, pompous boy grow up into an intelligent, forgiving, strong man and who finally becomes a wise, accepting elder. He is a role model of a leader, but more importantly he is the role model of a human being who lives life – who grows, matures, faces challenges, disappointments and successes. And, a full life includes tears.