Parashat Vayeshev

Shepherd Consciousness

The thoughts of a shepherd may be sublime, but they cannot take him away from the task at hand.

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Our ancestors were shepherds. The Torah tells us that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Rachel, and King David all herded goats and sheep. And in this week's Torah portion, Vayeshev, we see that Joseph also worked as a shepherd alongside his brothers (Genesis 37:2).

canfei nesharimThe greatest of our early Jewish leaders chose this profession, a livelihood scorned by surrounding cultures. Years after Joseph's exile to Egypt and rise to viceroy of the king of Egypt, when his brothers came to him in exile, Joseph presented them to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. The question that most interested the king was: "What is your occupation?" "We are shepherds," they replied to Pharaoh, "like our fathers before us (Genesis 47:3)." Shepherding was not a respected occupation in Egypt, and Pharaoh relegated Joseph's family to the far-off land of Goshen.


Solitude vs. Connection


This explanation requires further examination, especially for Rabbi Kook, who throughout his writing emphasizes the importance of the individual's connection and contribution to society. What is the value of seclusion and solitude? Is the desire for solitude a positive trait? How do we balance reclusive behavior with the greater ideals of refining humanity and elevating the universe? In other words: Is the ideal to connect to the world, or to disconnect?


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Fivel Yedidya Glasser has been involved in Jewish environmental teaching and guiding for 6 years with diverse groups including Yeshivat Torat Chaim, Teva Adventure, Camp Yavneh, Brandeis Bardin Institute, and Machon Nesiya. He is currently on a hiatus from teaching and has returned to full-time Torah study at the Bat Ayin Yeshiva.