A New King

וַיָּ֥קׇם מֶֽלֶךְ־חָדָ֖שׁ עַל־מִצְרָ֑יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יָדַ֖ע אֶת־יוֹסֵֽף׃

A new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph.

Shabbat, January 18, falls just two days before the inauguration of our next and returning President. That day, we read, “A new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph.” Amid the many stressors in my life, I reflect on the future of our nation and planet as we approach January 20. My greatest concern is uncertainty: I do not know what our new leader knows. I fear that he does not know Joseph.

At the close of Genesis, we learn about Joseph’s extraordinary character. Joseph was honest, interpreting dreams with integrity and foresight. He was visionary, discerning from Pharaoh’s dreams a plan to safeguard Egypt’s future. Joseph demonstrated adaptability, embracing a new identity and role within Egyptian society.

Most importantly, Joseph knew how to forgive. His brothers, who sold him into slavery, were later welcomed by Joseph into Egypt. Despite initial hesitation, Joseph reconciled with them, offering a model of healing and unity.

Now I worry that our next and returning President may not know Joseph. To know Joseph is to appreciate the lessons of the past and build upon them. To know Joseph is to honor ancestors and extend a hand to adversaries. Knowing Joseph means striving for peace and prosperity for the nation and the world.

By amazing or perhaps Godly coincidence, January 20 is also our national celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. Reflecting on King’s life, I find him to be “King” who knew Joseph – demonstrated by his humanity, his vision, and his willingness to reconcile with people who refashioned and continued the legacy of enslavement.

The Book of Exodus begins with ancestors and concludes with liberation. Between these bookends, we encounter bondage and tribulation. Yet, the journey ultimately brings the Israelites to Sinai—a place of law, Divine presence, and the beginning of the path home. Though the challenges were immense and the timeline long, the Jewish story teaches us to hold onto hope, to be strong, and to remember Joseph. And on January 20, let’s also focus on expanding the legacy of the King, of civil and human rights.

Rabbi Evan J. Krame