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“All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them" - Walt Disney 

In this week's Parashah, Parashat VaYeishev, Yosef has his famous dream which he repeats to his brothers. “שִׁמְעוּ־נָא הַחֲלוֹם הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר חָלָמְתִּי. וְהִנֵּה אֲנַחְנוּ מְאַלְּמִים אֲלֻמִּים בְּתוֹךְ הַשָּׂדֶה וְהִנֵּה קָמָה אֲלֻמָּתִי וְגַם־נִצָּבָה וְהִנֵּה תְסֻבֶּינָה אֲלֻמֹּתֵיכֶם וַתִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖ין לַאֲלֻמָּתִי,” “Hear this dream which I have dreamed: There we were binding sheaves in the field, when suddenly my sheaf stood up and remained upright; then your sheaves gathered around and bowed low to my sheaf” (BeReishit 37:6,7). As we know, Yosef is a principled man who has big dreams and aspirations. The brothers hate Yosef after hearing his significant dream. They feel that he is seeking power over them and is trying to put himself over them. However, we learn that Yosef does the right thing regardless of how he leaves his brothers. There's an amazing song, “Choleim Kimo Yosef,” by the famous Israeli singer Chanan ben Ari. The song speaks about how Jewish people are supposed to dream big like Yosef. 

On the other hand, the first Pasuk says "וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב יַעֲקֹ֔ב בְּאֶ֖רֶץ מְגוּרֵ֣י אָבִ֑יו," “Yaakov was settled in the land where his father had sojourned” (BeReishit 37:1). Rashi notes that Yaakov Avinu wanted to live the rest of his life in tranquility and peace. After running away from Esav, being tricked by Lavan, and losing his most beloved wife, Yaakov had had enough Tzarot. His final dream was to rest – VaYeishev. However, HaKadosh Baruch Hu had different plans. Yaakov faced another challenge when he lost his most beloved son Yosef. Hashem was trying to send him a message that nothing in life comes easy and the righteous can never rest. A Tzaddik is one whose dreams contain hard work in order to attain greatness. For this reason, the Torah contrasts Yaakov's dream to rest with Yosef's dream to become a great leader. The Torah is teaching us that we are not only supposed to dream big, but we are also supposed to work hard to achieve those dreams.

Another important lesson is that hard work has its ups and downs. Yosef is the epitome of downfalls and comebacks. He was once the beloved son of the most righteous man in the world only to find himself sitting in a dungeon in a foreign land and hated by his dear brothers. It was only when he decided to share his lessons, the importance of dreaming big, and working to achieve those big dreams, that he once again rose to greatness. It is not only important to have big dreams and to work hard to attain them, but it is also important to share our aspirations with others.

May we take this lesson to heart and strive to lift up others as they achieve their dreams while we work hard to achieve our own.

"VeGam Ani Choleim Kemo Yosef," "I too dream like Yosef" - Chanan Ben Ari.