My parents named their eleventh child Yosef. He’s a good looking, charming and well-liked young man. At this point, my father spends more time with him than with the rest of his sons. We call him the ‘Ben Zikunim’, the son of our parents’ old age.

Despite emerging and recurrent patterns, the Jewish people seem to have learned their lesson about sibling rivalry. My parents never had to worry about us selling Yossi or throwing him into a pit. We’ve never had the urge. We adore Yosef and we are all very proud to be his siblings. Times are different, people are different, and Yossi hasn’t had any disturbing dreams or tried to take over (yet).

There is an old tradition amongst the Chasidim of Bobov, Shinove, and others to enact a yearly Yosef Shpiel. Despite opposition, the show continues to this day. Even if you do not know Yiddish, it is worth taking the time to check out this performance at http://www.tsofar.com/zofar/mashtap/show.asp?id=5745 because it gives us an adult perspective on the story. The brothers were not a group of kids arguing in a sandbox, they were a group of holy, mature, men engaged in painful philosophical decision-making. The brothers were wrong – they admitted it themselves – but they were in no way childish or lacking intelligence in their actions.

Our descent to Egypt began when the brothers plotted to rid themselves of Yosef and dipped his coat into blood. We stayed in Egypt for 210 years, eventually becoming slaves and suffering greatly. The story of Yosef and his brothers plays a central role in the story of our slavery and redemption.

The Torah records that when Yosef was finally reunited with his brothers he gave each of them a suit. He singled out his brother Binyamin by giving him five suits. The Talmud wonders how Yosef could put Binyamin into the same favored position that caused him such trouble. Rabbi Binyamin Bar Yefes explains that the single suit received by each of the brothers was actually equal in value to the total value of Binyamin’s five suits. Binyamin received a different gift, but not a better one. Yosef alluded with his gift to Mordechai, a grandson of Binyamin, who would wear five royal robes as he walked through Shushan as second in command to King Achashveirosh. (Megila 16b, Maharsha)

Mordechai suffered as a result of his extra suits. Some of Mordechai’s colleagues in the Sanhedrin felt that he was too involved in royal affairs and could not remain the holy scholar and leader that he had been in the past. Other members of Sanhedrin continued to support Mordechai. Assuming that the latter were correct, it would seem that Mordechai did himself a disservice by leaving the palace wearing all five suits. He may not have had a choice, but by showing all of his glory at once he gave the wrong message to those around him.

Yosef taught Binyamin a similar lesson: If you have something special – don’t wear it on your sleeve. Don’t wear a suit of many colors. Don’t try to intimidate people by showing all of your merits at once. By exhibiting each of his traits on a ‘need to know’ basis, Binyamin would be able to accomplish far more for the Jewish people. The humility of Shaul of the tribe of Binyamin helped him become the first king of Israel; Ester, his grand-daughter, saved the Jewish people because she refused to disclose her royal lineage.

Our descent to Egypt began when the brothers dipped Yosef’s coat into blood. We left Egypt only after dipping our hyssop brushes into the blood of the Paschal lamb (and painting the doorposts).

Two immersions in blood: One got us into Egypt; the other got us out. The Jews came to Egypt as a result of the Sale of Yosef and they couldn’t leave until it was addressed.

On the night of the Seder we dip twice. We dip our Karpas into salt water to remember the bitterness caused by the Ksones PASim that was dipped in blood. We take the edge off of our bitterness by dipping Maror into Charoses and recalling the immersion that took place just before we were freed.

Double-dip at the Seder and make a difference.

We need to remember the story of Yosef and remove jealousy from our lives.