The key to the correct interpretation by Joseph of the dreams of the butler and baker in last weeks portion, and the dreams of Pharaoh in this weeks portion was his ability to translate the physical objects and their numbers to periods of time. Rashi comments that the magicians of Pharaoh interpreted the seven cows and the seven kernels of wheat in his dreams as the numbers of daughters he would give birth to and the number of daughters he would bury, or the kingdoms he would conquer, but then lose. Only Joseph could see the intrinsic connection between space and time, one of Einstein’s great discoveries.
Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh explains that time is the inner dimension of space, in that all change to the three physical dimensions only occurs through time. The Sefer Yetzirah (3:3) discusses five dimensions: three of space, one of time and one of soul. Science, which now posits time as well as space as dimensions, still has not reached the discovery of “soul,” the Divine dimension that gives life force to reality and fills it with a valued purpose, as a real and active dimension. Time serves as the intermediary between the dimensions of space and soul, between the physical world and the spiritual worlds. Even here science has recently accepted the effect consciousness has on reality, and the time is probably not long off when science will come to understand “soul” as a dimension as well.
Time assumes its role as intermediary due to the insurmountable “distance” between the infinite light of God and finite physical worlds. For if that light would shine directly into the worlds one of two things would happen. Either the physical world would be totally nullified by the tremendous influx of Divine light and would cease to exist, or in order not to overwhelm the physical world the light would become subservient to the lower worlds, which would then lose its Divine purpose for existing. Therefore the light of God assumes a pulsating rhythm of “running and returning” at every moment, both enlivening all the worlds and retreating in order not to overwhelm those same worlds. This dynamic, rhythmic current creates time, where every pulsation is a “segment” of time. In this way time is the bridge connecting the dimensions of space to the dimension of soul.
This very idea lies at the basic understanding of light being a stream of tiny packets or particles of light called photons. These tiny packets are called quanta, from which we arrive at the term quantum physics. One of the greatest paradoxes of science is that light acts as both a particle and a wave. This mystery of light is intrinsically connected to the mystery of time. Both light and time which appear to be like a constant flowing stream are at their very essence Divine pulsating energy.
Joseph was able to see the inner essence of time enlivening the symbols in the dreams and interpret them accordingly. When interpreting the dreams of the butler and baker he interpreted the number three, which appeared in both their dreams as days, while the number seven in the dreams of Pharaoh he interpreted as years. This also entailed a deep understanding of the symbolism of numbers.
Three relates to the three inner intellectual sefirot, the channels of Divine influx present at all levels of creation, while seven relates to the lower, more external sefirot, the emotional and behavioral characteristics. The intellect operates primarily in a private realm within a person, while human characteristics interact more with the outside world. Therefore, Joseph interpreted the number three as three days, in which their private fates would be determined, whereas with Pharaoh he saw the number seven as alluding to events taking place in the public arena over a longer period.
The root of the word year, shana, also means change. Thus he intuited the seven lean cows consuming the seven fat cows as a process taking a longer period of time. He also knew the secret of the statement in the Midrash that the dream of a king is a dream for the whole world (Bereshit Rabbah 89:4).
