Veyeshev: From the Pit to the Throne, You Must Read Between the Lines

In this episode, we discuss the transformation of Joseph as he moves from a dream-struck youth to a figure of maturity and insight. Initially grounded in a literal interpretation of his dreams, Joseph faces rejection from his brothers, an experience that propels him into a journey of growth. Through his hardships, Joseph begins to understand the symbolic layers of dreams and human behavior, a shift that mirrors developmental psychology's emphasis on symbolism and theory of mind. By the end of this parasha, Joseph evolves into an active, perceptive leader who can navigate social dynamics with finesse—setting the stage for his rise to greatness as the Torah repeatedly calls him Ish Matzliach ("a successful man" in Hebrew).