Weekly Shabbat Parsha Thoughts - Miketz - 12.18.2009

This week we see Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt and the reunion with his brothers.

What stood out to me reading over the parsha this week (and inspired by a reading by Rabbi Brad Artson) was the need for different types of intelligence for his success. He had the need for some spiritual knowledge and connection to HaShem (with dream interpretation) as well as the practical skills required to run Egypt as the viceroy.

The two sets of knowledge together is what truly allows Joseph to become a leader. We should remember that Joseph had spiritual intelligence for a long time – but it was only when he used other practical skills and types of intelligence to fulfill his position and destiny.

What I think the Torah is teaching us here is that we need to develop multiple skills and types of intelligence to be truly successful. A wholly religious or spiritual view will not get the job done nor will a totally secular view. Even in our oldest texts we are being taught the lesson of the value of action within the real world.

We would also do well to recognize in the real world that different people posses different skills and types of intelligence. And a leaders job is not just to make sure that we have both a spiritual and secular view of the world but also to make sure that different types of skills and intelligence are brought together to make sure that we have a full view of a problem and therefore a full view of a solution.

Let’s remember that it took Joseph using all of his skills and intelligence (as well as the entire nation of Egypt) to achieve his destiny of success and we should look at this as a lesson for ourselves. A lesson to develop ourselves spiritually and secularly as well as recognize the different skills required to achieve a goal.

Shabbat Shalom