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Joseph the Zaddik Father of His Country

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Joseph stands alone among the biblical patriarchs, bearing the title "Zaddik" (the Righteous One) despite his curious absence from traditional liturgy. Through literary and thematic analysis of Genesis, close textual reading, and examination of rabbinic commentary, this research reveals how Joseph transcended his personal narrative to become the architect of Israelite national unity. Where the Isaac-Ishmael and Jacob-Esau relationships ended in permanent separation and enmity, Joseph broke the pattern of fraternal strife by achieving genuine reconciliation with his brothers, transforming potential national fragmentation into cohesion. The profound significance of this achievement echoes through biblical history, symbolized by Moses carrying Joseph's bones alongside the Ark of the Covenant during the Exodus. His designation as "Zaddik" thus reflects not merely personal righteousness, but his pivotal role as the "Father of his Country" who created the familial peace necessary for Israel's emergence as a unified nation. This interpretation illuminates Joseph's essential contribution to Jewish national consciousness and messianic expectations.

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    Published 1996

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  • Publication Credits

    Gerald Wolpe