This week’s portion, Vayeshev, translates to “settling down.” It’s an interesting moment to engage with this portion, as many of us currently feel unsettled in our lives. Why? For some, it’s because we’re unable to participate in the seasonal traditions we once enjoyed. In general, we’re experiencing limits on what we can do—whether it’s our career, relationships, or spiritual journey that’s being affected. Feeling hindered and restricted in our progress can be incredibly frustrating. Our current moment may feel like a forced pause, but Vayeshev reminds us that difficult times can serve as periods of preparation. Every challenge has the potential to move us forward and help us grow.

And who better to illustrate this than Joseph?

In this portion, we learn of Joseph’s painful and unenviable plight. Joseph had a clear mission for his life: like his father and grandfather before him, he wanted to bring balance to the world. He had a vision, believing that he would achieve this mission, but in order to do so, he needed to correct the original sin. When we think of the original sin in the Garden of Eden, we often think of bad timing—Adam and Eve indulging in something they weren’t ready for. Joseph, too, fell victim to bad timing.

Joseph had a dream that he would one day rule, but he announced his belief in his future greatness too early, before he was truly ready. And for this, he was punished. The world was not yet ready for him.

If it’s painful for us to feel that our plans have been thwarted, imagine how Joseph must have felt. He had such noble aspirations, believing himself to be a prophet, yet he was sold into slavery by his own brothers. While it’s easy to judge their actions from our perspective, the truth is that Joseph wasn’t yet ready to be king. Although his vision was correct, he still had much growth to undergo before he could fulfill his destiny. His brothers, feeling the sting of favoritism, thought his dreams were arrogant. At that moment in Joseph’s life, their judgment made sense. They didn’t know he would later surpass them.

There’s another important lesson here about timing. Our judgments about people can be correct for a time, just as Joseph’s brothers’ judgment was correct at that moment. However, we must remember that judgments are often temporary. When we feel intuitively that someone is wrong for us, that may indeed be the case—but it’s important to remember that judgments can change. Joseph, though he was destined for greatness, had to evolve through his experiences. This teaches us that someone who seems wrong for us in one moment may be exactly who we need in another. Our encounters with people often have a higher purpose—whether it's to learn from them or to help them on their own journey.

So, what changed Joseph and made him ready to be king? It was the hardships he endured as a slave. To grow, Joseph had to be tested. He had to leave his comfort zone. This is a tough but fundamental truth: we cannot improve without facing challenges. We may wish we could simply settle down, shut ourselves away, and avoid struggles—but if we want to make a difference in the world, we must expect resistance and difficulty along the way.

We don’t have to live as slaves in Egypt, but we must honestly assess the areas of our lives where we need change, and take responsibility for making those changes.

As we approach Hanukkah, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the bigger picture. What do we want to achieve in our lives? How can we use the challenging times we face today to elevate us to the next level? How can we emerge from this season of struggle as better, stronger, and more righteous individuals than we were before? Every day is a precious gift, and it’s our responsibility to make the most of it. Settling down is fine, but only once we’ve done the work. Timing is everything. It’s the difference between ending our lives with beautiful memories, versus unfulfilled dreams.

Joseph made his dream come true, and so can we. Even in our darkest moments, we must remember that we are loved unconditionally. Our faith in God’s plan should be a source of comfort, especially during hard times, reassuring us that there is purpose, beauty, and potential in everything we endure. With the support of our community, we will continue to overcome, continue to grow, and like Joseph, we will one day step into our greatness.