The Imrei Baruch: Joseph’s Wisdom – Mikeitz

The 20th of Kislev is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Baruch Hager of Seret-Viznitz, the Imrei Baruch (1892). The son of Rav Menachem Mendel Hager, Rav Baruch was Rebbe for only eight years, and was niftar at a young age. His son, Rav Yisrael Hager (the Ahavas Yisrael), was born when Rav Baruch was only 15 years old.

How did Pharaoh know that Joseph’s interpretation was accurate, and that he was qualified to rule Egypt and guide them through the coming years of plenty and famine?

“He imposed it as a testimony for Joseph when he went forth over the land of Egypt – “I understand a language I never knew!” (Psalms 81) Pharaoh did not describe his dream accurately: He dreamt that he was standing on the water of  the Nile, but described his dream with his standing on the shore.

Pharaoh watched Joseph’s face as he retold his dream and realized that Joseph immediately picked up that there was an inaccuracy, “a language that he never heard.” Joseph must have known the accurate version of the dream. He knew that the interpretation was accurate.

Pharaoh understood that Joseph’s wisdom extended beyond facts; he had a sense of what was true and what was not. He was no limited by the information he received from human sources, and that convinced him that Joseph possessed the right wisdom to guide the land.

For what do we look in our leaders? Do we look for those who have the most information? Or, do we have the same insight as Pharaoh to look for leaders who use their wisdom to develop their insight and sense of what they must do? (Imrei Baruch- Miketz)