Although we have a few business deals in this parsha, due to their unique nature, we won’t analyze those this week. Instead, we’ll focus on one’s attitude towards business, and subsequently, life in general.
When looking over the parsha, one can’t help but notice the "Cardinal Sins" demonstrated by some of our greatest forefathers. Excuse me for borrowing from a non-Jewish concept, but we’re shown greed, jealousy, and pride, to name a few. Let’s have a look at the details before we draw any conclusions.
From Avraham to Yitzchak to Yaakov, only one son is chosen to carry on the family tradition and subsequently, the promises of a great nation. My rabbi R’ Yaakov Beasley called it "passing the football." This is not the ideal way to build a nation, but it was the reality until the sons of Yaakov came along.
Yaakov loved Yosef more than the other sons and would have chosen him to carry the family torch. Yosef was aware of this and became proud and oblivious to his family’s feelings. The brothers grew jealous and resorted to getting rid of Yosef in an underhanded attempt to change the future.
Meanwhile, Yehuda fears for the life of his youngest son Sheila after his other two sons die upon marrying Tamar. He greedily withholds Sheila from Tamar, betraying his obligation to her, so she tricks Yehuda into giving her a son, finally fulfilling the obligation.
Yosef’s vanity continues to get him into trouble as he unwittingly seduces the wife of his boss, Potifar. This lands him in jail where he interprets 2 dreams, that the head baker will be killed and the head wine steward will be freed.
The final Rashi of this parsha seems to sum up the entire drama which took place. Rashi writes that because Yosef depended on the head wine steward to get him freed, Hashem kept him in jail for 2 more years. Most scholars believe that Yosef’s actions here do not reflect one’s necessary hishtadlut, effort, in rectifying a situation while maintaining a belief in Hashem’s will and assistance. His faith was solely in man and as such, Hashem’s redemption was not swift.
Similarly, with the "passing of the football", Yosef and his brothers should have recognized the unique nature of their situation and had faith that Hashem would allow all of them to be pillars of the nation of Israel. Had Yehuda given over Sheila and trusted in Hashem’s decrees, maybe he would have saved himself the embarrassment of impregnating his own daughter-in-law.
When developing or running your own business, it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that past trends will continue, or that relinquishing some control will lead to the business’ demise. This causes people to suffer from anxiety and sometimes sin through lying and cheating in an attempt to take the upper hand.
This parsha teaches us to put our faith in Hashem and do that which is good in His eyes, and He will guide us along our path to ultimate success.