A teenager is kidnapped by his brothers and sold into slavery in a foreign land. Against all odds, the youth fortuitously finds his way to freedom, then scales his new home’s socio-political ladder, eventually becoming the second most powerful leader in the country.
Years later, facing a regional famine, his brothers travel abroad to buy supplies from a prominent political leader, who - unbeknownst to them - is the brother they once betrayed. A perfect opportunity for revenge.
He now has total power over his former oppressors. What does he do? What would you do?
The drive for revenge seems natural. When we are wronged, we have the urge to ‘get even’. Some deem it an act of honor to ‘avenge a wrong'.
The Torah perspective is much more nuanced.
Revenge, per se, is a desire to hurt someone in retaliation for a previously inflicted harm. Revenge isn’t about undoing damage that’s been done; it's about inflicting more pain, just at a different address. It may feel good at the moment, but there’s nothing constructive about it. So, the Torah actually forbids the act of revenge (Leviticus 19:18).
Justice, on the other hand has positive aims including rehabilitation, deterrence and moral cleansing. Justice also sometimes hurts; but hurting isn’t the objective.
So let's go back to the kidnapped boy, who is our ancestor Joseph. He had a great opportunity for revenge.