Be Real

This week’s Torah portion tells the remarkable story of Joseph’s rise in Egypt. Joseph began as a powerless, displaced young man, sold by his brothers, dragged into a foreign land, and forced to start life from scratch. Yet somehow, this outsider became the most trusted and successful person in the home of Potiphar, one of Egypt’s top officials.

What was Joseph’s secret?

The Torah gives us a clue: Joseph never hid who he was. Even in a land overflowing with idols, he spoke openly about his belief in one G-d. The Torah says that his boss “saw that G-d was with him, and that everything Joseph did, G-d made successful.” The commentators add, “The name of Heaven was always on Joseph’s lips.” In other words, Joseph didn’t compartmentalize his spirituality; it was simply part of how he spoke, how he lived, and how he understood his own success.

And the amazing thing is that instead of being seen as strange or inconvenient, Joseph’s authenticity earned him even more respect. His boss entrusted his entire household to him. Joseph’s confidence in his identity didn’t push people away, it drew them close.

This isn’t just an ancient story. It’s a message for every Jew living in today’s world.

Most of us spend our lives in an environment that isn’t particularly Jewish. Our workplaces, social circles, and online spaces are largely secular. We’re often the only Jew in the room, or one of just a few. It’s easy to feel that being openly Jewish might make things awkward. So we downplay it. We tuck parts of ourselves away. We keep “the Jewish stuff” at home.

Joseph teaches the opposite. In the first moment of Jewish history spent in true exile, Joseph showed that the way to thrive is not by hiding, but by being real.

Now, being openly Jewish doesn’t have to mean preaching or shouting. It can be as simple as letting people know you’re heading out early for Shabbat, or stepping aside for a moment to say a quick prayer, or mentioning “thank G-d” naturally in conversation. It’s wearing a kipah without worrying what someone might think, or choosing not to eat something you’re not comfortable with even if others don’t get it.

These small acts communicate something powerful: I’m proud of where I come from. I’m not here to blend in, I’m here to bring light.

Something surprising happens when we do this. People respect it. They may not understand everything, but they admire sincerity, conviction, and integrity. A Jew who embraces their identity confidently is treated with more dignity, not less.

This is especially important today, when Jews can sometimes feel vulnerable or pressured. The Torah’s message is clear that our physical circumstances may be shaped by the world around us, but our soul, our inner Jewish spark, is never in exile. It stays connected to G-d, no matter where we are.

Joseph understood that his success wasn’t only about his talent or skill. He recognized a higher hand guiding him. When we live with that same awareness, when we know that our destiny isn’t controlled by statistics or politics or headlines, we gain a quiet strength. We walk through the world with what the Sages call “the pride of Jacob,” a calm, steady confidence that doesn’t depend on numbers or power.

And that attitude changes how others treat us. When a Jew stands tall, people around them respond with respect. Not arrogance, not confrontation, just dignity.

Joseph’s story reminds us that we don’t survive by hiding our Jewish identity. We shine by expressing it. And when we do, the world around us becomes a little brighter, a little kinder, and a little more open to the values we bring.