By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal, Tifereth Israel Synagogue, San Diego

There is a well known Jewish folktale in which a poor young shepherd boy is chosen to be King by a magic bird that lands on his head. The boy rules wisely but has one strange habit: every day he retreats to a small shed he has built in back of the palace and remains in solitude for an hour.

One day one of his advisors follow him. Peering into a window he sees the young kind take off his crown and royal robes, and dress himself in his simple shepherd’s garb. When he emerges the advisor asks him to explain himself.

The King replies: "Now that I am King it is important for me to remind myself each day of where I came from, so that I will always be mindful of the wants and needs of those I rule."

The book of Shemot (Exodus) begins by recalling the arrival of Jacob’s family in Egypt. Not included in the list, of course, is Joseph because "Yosef haya b’Mitzraim," Joseph was already in Egypt when his father and brothers arrived. (Ex. 1:5)

Rashi says that with these words the Torah speaks of Joseph’s righteousness. Joseph, now the Viceroy of Egypt, still lives his life in the same Godly way as when he was a humble shepherd back in Canaan. He has not allowed success to go to his head. All of his power and wealth has not blinded him to God’s will and the needs of his brothers and sisters.

The commentator Beit Pinchas observes that both poverty and wealth pose challenges to human beings. Poverty can make one sad, bitter, and resentful, while wealth can encourage arrogance, callousness, and selfishness.

Joseph experienced both extremes in his life. He experienced the simplicity of the shepherd’s life and the comforts of the wealthy. Yet though it all, he did not change. He remained the same. While poor he was not bitter and when rich he was not arrogant. Through his entire life he remained grateful and devoted to God, and sensitive and caring to his fellow human beings.

As the shepherd who became King, Joseph always remembered where he came from in order to understand where he needed to go.