Claim that biblical figure Joseph was Autistic

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The story of Joseph is among the Torah’s best-known and most intriguing tales. In a new book, Was Yosef On The Spectrum? Understanding Joseph Through Torah, Midrash and Classical Jewish Sources, Samuel J. Levine, a professor of Law and Director of the Jewish Law Institute at Touro Law Center, presents a thorough, compelling theory about why Yosef struggles with social understanding—not only in childhood but also throughout his adult life.

Levine, who also received rabbinical ordination from Yeshiva University, grounds his theories about Yosef in texts—his literary analysis delves into the Biblical story and also commentary from Rambam, Rashi and lesser known classical midrashim. His underlying theory is that in imagining Yosef as a person on the autism spectrum, we can better understand and appreciate his unique challenges and abilities. Levine paints a portrait of a person who struggles not only with social understanding when it comes to relating to his brothers—but all through his life, challenged to read social cues in interacting with Potiphar’s wife, with the servants whose dreams he interprets in prison and even as he engages with the all-powerful Pharoah. Levine illustrates, throughout the book, that Yosef has not only has challenges–but also possesses unique abilities and strengths.

n doing so, Levine provides us with a new way of thinking about Yosef and his story–and also more globally about the characteristics, strengths and challenges of people on the autism spectrum whom we may know. He emphasizes the way that with support, Yosef is ultimately able to use his unique abilities in a professional capacity. Levine writes, ‘It is not uncommon for individuals with disabilities, once they receive the appropriate services, structure, and supports, to be able to exercise the talents they possess and achieve the goals that would otherwise elude them. As Pharoah recognizes, like many who are on the spectrum, Yosef’s deficits are in areas relating to social expectations and interactions.”

Levine then goes on to describe the way that Pharoah, in fact, provides Yosef with supports—including dignified clothing, a wife and servants—to help him navigate his social world so that he is free to use his areas of strengths and talent in a professional capacity.

In his in-depth, nuanced, detailed examination of Yosef’s life, Samuel Levine provides us with a book that will raise awareness and hopefully change attitudes towards people with autism and other cognitive disabilities.

I wonder if Jesus went through an "autistic" phase. We really don't know much about him from the ages of 12 to 30. What happened during those 18 years?

I think diagnosing people way after they died is more of an intellectual parlour game than anything else.

Was Hitler ...

I don't care of Hitler was autistic, allistic, or any istic----he'll never be "one of us."

Maybe Jonah was autistic. He went to a lot of trouble to avoid preaching to people. He reminds me of me.