In our Torah portion “Vayigash,” the prime minister of Egypt reveals himself to his brothers as Joseph. The brothers, who had just been in the midst of a confrontation with the “Egyptian official,” are shocked by this revelation—but also terrified. They had sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt, and now he was the highest-ranking official in Pharaoh’s court.

Joseph surprises his brothers once again, because he views the past from an entirely different perspective than they do:

“Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come near to me.’ So they came near. Then he said, ‘I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep you alive for a great deliverance. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler...

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