Choice of Languages

And there was a lad with us, a Hebrew, servant of the minister of cooks …                   Genesis 41:12 Cursed are the wicked, for the favors they do are never complete. The butler mentions Joseph with disparaging language: a lad – foolish and unworthy of a position of greatness; a Hebrew – who does not even know our language; a slave – it is written in the laws of Egypt that a slave may neither become a ruler nor wear princely robes.         Rashi

          The question has been raised: the butler apparently is relating a lie when he alleges that Joseph does not speak Egyptian, for Joseph must have spoken to the butler in Egyptian.

          My father explained that the intention is while Joseph speaks the Egyptian language, he is not in touch with the cultural connotations of the language. Though Joseph can converse in Egyptian, he is unaware of the value system conveyed by the language. Joseph is oblivious to the fact that Egyptians consider it an abomination to eat with a Hebrew [43:32]. This “lad” instead of trying to hide his embarrassment, takes pride in his being a Hebrew.

          Interestingly, the quality which Pharaoh’s butler sees as Joseph’s shortcoming, is in truth a great virtue. Our Sages [Bamidbar Rabba 20:29] taught us that the Israelites were redeemed from Egypt because they changed neither their clothing nor their names nor their language. Indeed, language is a vehicle which conveys culture. The fact that the Israelites in Egypt continued to speak their own language implies that despite their having sunk to the forty-ninth depth of impurity, they still maintained a connection with their own culture, and for this reason the Israelites were worthy of redemption.