THE HATFIELDS AND McCOYS

Forgiveness is not a theme frequently discussed in the Torah, but Joseph is credited with being the first to do so; indeed, forgiving his brothers for their despicable treatment of him was heroic, especially in those early days when revenge killings were common. One could argue that Esau was actually the first to forgive, but he had the incentive of being given a great deal of wealth by Jacob before they were reconciled - far more than enough to be compensated for the birthright Jacob bought for a pittance.

Here is a poem I wrote about forgiving (or not):

The Hatfields and McCoys
Capulets and Montagues
Child’s play compared to Israel and Egypt
who have shared complex family, religious, and political history
for thousands of years and stories

We recall that Egypt took us in more than once
feeding us in times of famine
Abram and Sarai traveled there in such a time 
with Sarai’s Egyptian servant, Hagar
Hagar, mother of Ishmael by Abram
Isaac and Ishmael, brothers! 
Would things be different now 
if Hagar hadn’t been provocative;
if Sarai hadn’t been jealous;
if both hadn’t been cruel?

Joseph, Abraham’s grandson,  found himself in Egypt 
having been sold into slavery by his brothers 
He rose to prominence in the House of Potiphar 
where, after a false accusation and dramatic downfall 
he ultimately became Pharaoh's right-hand man
His wife, Asenath, was Egyptian
Their sons were Efraim and Menasseh
In those days, Egypt and Israel, Jacob’s tribe, 
had no quarrel with one another
Perhaps they remembered their kinship and shared history
Would things be different now
if memories were longer and kinship had been more highly valued?
if God did not want to separate his people, Israel, 
from all other nations?

Joseph: dreamer and visionary
consummate logistician and administrator
Let us remember that Pharaoh, in appreciation,
allowed Joseph to bring his entire family to Egypt 
in one of many famines:
Jacob; Leah; Rachel; Bilhah; Zilpah
and eleven of the twelve
whose descendants became Israel's tribes 
Pharaoh gave them a large area in which to settle: Goshen
They thrived there; increasing in number 
and wealth beyond measure

The dreamer dreamed 
Abundance followed by famine; seven years each
The farmers gave Pharaoh their grain to store in times of plenty
against the times of famine that were to come
The master plan compelled them to buy it back
Buy it back! when famine arrived
They ended up as serfs, having had to sell their land to Pharaoh
in order to buy back their own grain
Would things be different now 
if Pharaoh had been less greedy?
if Joseph had insisted on giving back 
what the farmers had freely given?

Many long years of prosperity and ease
became many long years of slavery and hardship 
setting into perpetual motion 
the wheels of bitterness and resentment
distrust and alienation
between countries 
between cousins
that endures to this day

The Hatfields and McCoys
Capulets and Montagues
Playground squabbles compared to the Egyptians and Israelis
Sharing now, at least/at last, a cold peace 
Could things have been different?
Could they be different now?

— Debbie Troner