READING 6 - THE JEWISH READINGS - CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2
for good things and many people, even believers, cannot accept or stand it. This is Joseph's case and situation. He will save his brothers because from nothing he rose to power in Egypt and could save his brothers from famine.
We can compare this to the behaviour of the wealthy man in the Gospel read this Sunday. This man has no idea of any future, no good intentions toward anybody and his soul was longing to evil actions. Joseph could read and explain the dreams.
In Hebrew, KHALOM is a very good word using different letters: KH-L-M. The root means: to join, weld, to be attached, to attach closely, paste on. In ancient Arabic "I ilm" meant "friend". But the letters can be combined in different ways, which is relevant in Semitic and Talmudic Traditions in order to form the following words: a] LeKHeM: bread or meat [LaKHam in Arabic], a meal which sustains for the future and preserves from any famine. b] MeLaKH: salt, which preserves also for the future and allows to keep meat fresh and gives flavour to food. Jesus mentons that: "You are the salt of the earth [Matthew 5:13], but "if the salt loses its flavour what will you be [Mark 9:50: Luke 14:34]. c] MaKHaL: to forgive, because atonement pages the way to good things and repairs our misconducts.
In hard times, we can be sure that God will provide. If we feel in despair, we should measure the length and abundant gifts that we may receive in due time. Our generation is sometimes showing a lack of patience, of distance, of understanding of the value of time, periods, and delays. Therefore we are not prepared to tribulations or hunger or fight, hatred. But Pardon and love, hope and dignity have been revealed from old and are still nourisbhing our souls and bodies.
Pirkey Avot [Sayings of the Fathers] of the Week: 2:12
As we have mentioned in the appendix of Reading 5, this Shabbat is also the beginning of the Feast of Hannukah, the Feast of the Light, of hope and spiritual victory over idolatry.
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