One of the greatest misnomers of the human condition is the idea that “ignorance is bliss.” So much of what affects our lives is hidden from us, and the biggest mistake we can make is to believe that we are cognizant of all the factors that can affect us, and make plans on the basis of what we believe we know.

Rabbi Dunner deftly connects the extraordinary story of Joseph and his brothers to the different perspectives of those who know and those who don’t, and suggests that there may be a timely lesson for us in the narrative of Mikkeitz, relevant to the vaccine for COVID-19.