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Why Joseph’s no patriarch

JOSHUA HAMMERMAN NOVEMBER 27, 2013, 7:51 PM

A
s the book of Genesis begins to wind down with the ever fascinating Joseph saga, a
question lingers: Why does Joseph end up as an also-ran in the Patriarch’s Hall of
Fame? He is not buried with the family in Hebron. He is excluded from daily mention
in the liturgy. God may be “with him,” but we have no evidence of direct revelation. Given all
that he goes through and all that he does to ensure the survival of the Jewish people, not to
mention the importance of the Joseph tribes (Ephraim and Manasseh) in later Israelite history,
why doesn’t Joseph make it into the front row along with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (and their
respective wives)?

Here are my Top Ten Reasons for the Snub of Joseph

1) (Psychologist’s approach) Jacob’s favoritism was a big turn-off. God didn’t want to
encourage lousy parenting by promoting the already swelled-headed Joseph to the head of the
patriarchal class.

2) (Zionist approach) Joseph was the first “Yored” (emigrant from Israel), who made a bundle
in the diaspora (admirable), married out (tolerable) and never returned (how could you!?)

3) (Bubbe’s) He never visited the dead relatives in Hebron. Nor did he even think of calling
the live ones.

4) (Congregant’s) Isn’t the Amida long enough already, what with all those names at the
beginning…and now the matriarchs want in too! Sorry Joe, we gotta draw the line somewhere!

5) (Feminist-Endogamist’s) And if we added Joseph’s name to the Amida, what would we do

with his non-Jewish wife?

6) (Chief rabbinate’s) The entire tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh are hereby declared off-
limits to Jews for marriage until they undergo proper conversions.

7) (Baker’s Union) We give the little jailbird a year’s supply of pita and this is the thanks we
get!?

8) (Anti-fascist) Hero, shmer-o. He was just following orders (everything was orchestrated
from on high)!
9) (Insomniac’s) This guy gets more accomplished in his sleep than I do when I’m awake –
and I’m losing sleep over that!

10) (My approach) Unlike his bronzed forbears, Joseph is Everyperson, caught up in the
swarming tides of destiny, surmounting them simply by refusing to drown. He overcomes his
flaws and undoes his errors: Joe R’ Us at our best. His struggle to get into the “front row”
parallels our own. He should be there – but only when we can join him.

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