Shirley Chisholm was the first black woman elected to Congress. However, due to race related politics, she was assigned to the Agricultural Committee, a role that seemed designed to diminish her influence and impact. Shirley was dejected. She felt like her political dreams were being snipped in the bud.
That was until she received a call from the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s office, inviting her to a meeting.
“I know you’re disappointed,” said the Rebbe.
“I’m very upset,” Shirley interjected. “What am I supposed to do with this puppet position?”
“What a blessing God has given you,” the Rebbe told Chisholm. “This country has so much surplus food, and there are so many hungry people. You can use this gift that G-d gave you to feed hungry people. Find a creative way to do it.”
On her first day in Washington, she chanced upon a senator who explained to her that the farmers in his state had extra produce with no one to sell it to. Her first thought was the words of the Rebbe. She partnered with the senator to create the WIC program, which now feeds eight million Americans each month.
She later said at her retirement party, “I owe this because a rabbi who was an optimist taught me that what you may think is a challenge is a gift from G-d.”
When Yosef reveals himself to his brothers, they are understandably petrified. The brother that they had threw in a pit and sold into slavery and all but left for dead now occupied one of the greatest seats of power in the world.
“Who knows what type of revenge you will take upon us?,” The brothers thought. Yosef tries to calm them down, he brings them close to him, but then he tells them something interesting. He says, “I am Yosef whom you sold into Egypt.”
How is that going to put them at ease? Wouldn’t reminding them of the grave sin that they did make them even more scared?
How is highlighting their role in his traumatic past going to comfort them? The Sfas Emes provides a beautiful insight into how to read Yosef’s words, “Ani Yosef.”
Yosef is saying that, “I’m the second most powerful man in the world. And do you know how I reached this powerful position? It was because of the challenges that I went through, the hardships that I had to face, which developed me into the person I am today. The resilience and grit that drove me to my success are a direct result of the struggles you put me through.”
Yosef was able to take the negativity that he faced and not let it bog him down, but rather view it as an opportunity for growth. Yosef was able to close his eyes to the pain and adversity and focus on the avenues of growth and success that were available.
Archaeologist T. E. Lawrence once said, “Dream with your eyes closed and they will fade. Dream with your eyes open and you will make them happen.”
Perhaps Yosef would add, “while you must dream with your eyes open, your success will come through knowing how and when to close your eyes.”
To dream is not to ignore reality, but to write a new one.
Wishing you a wonderful Shabbos.
