Parshas Mikeitz

By Rabbi Shmuel Gluck

In Paraoh's dream of the 7 years of prosperity, he saw cows which were Va'tir'e'nu Bo'o'chu. The Targum translates those words as B'a'cha'vo, with brotherhood. Rashi expands on this and says, She'ha'bri'yos Nir'es Yo'fos Zu L'zu, that people are generous to each other. Paroah's dream "understood" that when people have enough to support themselves, they treat others nicely. This thought is confirmed by the Medrash, which says, Bsho'o Shehashonim Yofos, Habriyos Na'asin Achim Ze Im Ze, in the times when the years are "good", people act as brothers to each other.

Most people believe that they become irritated by others because of what those others do to them. In reality, people's attitudes towards others are primarily based on how satisfied they are with their own lives, and with themselves, at that moment. People in good moods are accepting. People in bad moods find everyone else's faults.

I've noticed that when I am irritated, "all of a sudden", everything irks me. This means that nothing really irks me, I am just irked by my personal circumstance. Being honest with themselves' will limit, if it doesn't eliminate people's "rights" to become irritated at others.

People may become irritated by others. However, when their lives calm down, they should acknowledge that it was their state of mind, and not the other person's behavior that upset them. Nevertheless, they repeat their misplaced irritation of others the next time. Instead, they should acknowledge that it's their own lives that's irritating them.