Genesis 41:1–44:17
Parshat Miketz
Pharaoh dreams of seven fat and seven lean cows rising from the river, and Joseph is brought from prison to interpret: seven years of plenty, then seven years of famine. Joseph becomes viceroy of Egypt and stores grain. When his brothers come down to buy food he recognizes them but hides who he is, tests them, and the portion ends with Benjamin accused of taking Joseph's goblet. Miketz is almost always read on Shabbat Chanukah.
Essays
Parsha Miketz – Provisions, Breaking and Hope As Joseph’s prediction of a famine that would devastate the residents of Egypt and Canaan came true, Jacob sent his sons to… Parsha Miketz – A Dream Come True The aspiration that Jews had — and continue to have — for thousands of years, to realize the final and complete Redemption at the hands of Moshiach, fits into the category of a genuine dream that will be realized. This dream possesses all the characteristics of a realistic dream: It is about usherin Parsha Miketz – Are You Prepared? We must constantly be thinking of the goal, of preparing ourselves for the future Redemption. On the other hand, we must not let our yearning for the future impede our ability to do our job while we are still here in the last moments of exile. Every day must be filled with the study of Torah and ful Parsha Miketz – Chanukah in Egypt? We must yearn for the future when G-d’s light, the infinite G-dly light created on the first day of creation that enables us to see from one end of the world to the other, will be revealed. This primordial light is recaptured with the Chanukah lights that we light at present, but which will be fully Parsha Miketz – Dream or Reality? The goal of Chanukah lights is to so inundate the “outside” with G-dly light that the perfunctory nature of our spiritual lives ceases to be so and we begin to thrive and savor every bit of our Mitzvos. We take nothing for granted and we do not get bored with the repetition of our mitzvah activities Parsha Miketz – Drive Carefully When Jacob heard the conviction and certainty in Yehudah’s voice, he detected the spirit of Moshiach and knew that Yehudah would succeed in the immediate task of bringing Benjamin back safely and, in so doing, ensure the final Redemption. Parsha Miketz – Free at Last and the Last Day of Chanukah Joseph’s name implies three dimensions of increasing:: The first is not staying in one place. The second is that one must create a process that has the potential to give birth to something new, ad infinitum. The third represents the capacity to transform an “outsider” into an “insider.” Parsha Miketz – Geulah Within Galus We have been told that we are on the very threshold of Geulah. And yet, we have seen examples of the process seemingly placed on hold. We should not be discouraged because it is only a test and we will imminently see how it will turn out to be a mirage and the Geulah will unfold in its full glory. Parsha Miketz – “I Have a Dream” Lest we think that the process of Redemption will negate everything we stood for in the days of exile, this week’s Torah portion informs us that the contrary is true. The dream/exile itself contains the solution. Within the chaotic state of affairs that characterize a dream and the period of exile, Parsha Miketz – Pharaoh’s Menorah The main objection of the Syrian Greeks to Judaism was not its culture and literature, but the underlying premise that it all stemmed from one G-d. And while they defiled other parts of the Temple, the greatest emphasis was placed on preventing the use of the Menorah, which symbolizes unity within t Parsha Miketz – Sing Along with Israel Jewish music in general, and the melodies that are associated with prayer and the praises of G-d, in particular, possess an uncanny ability to get us out of our internal exile, that in the aggregate is what prevents the world at large from experiencing the collective Redemption it so eagerly awaits. Parsha Miketz – Judah and Judah The name Jew derives from the word Judah. This implies that every one of us has the responsibility to demonstrate awareness of their uniqueness, their G-d given potential to illuminate the world with light. Every Jew possesses a spark of Moshiach, which may lie dormant. As we kindle the Chanukah lig Parsha Miketz – Sensitivity and Behavior Even when we must employ harsh measures in disciplining the other, we cannot let that cloud our feelings. A judge must walk a tight-rope in rendering justice. On the one hand, he cannot allow his feelings to cloud the need for justice, for he would then be corrupting justice. On the other hand, the Parsha Miketz – Spin Your Dreams The way one interprets the dream is the way it materializes. By Joseph giving a positive “spin” to the butler’s dream, it actually became a positive reality. Hence Joseph was actually the one who reinstated the butler by providing him with a positive interpretation of his dream. Parsha Miketz – Standing on the River Joseph exposed the truth about many of the world’s isms that claim altruism and purport to raise us to higher levels. In truth the people behind these isms stand on their own gods and use them as a means to serve their own selfish interests. Joseph’s entry onto the scene of leadership—that eventuall Parsha Miketz – Ten to Discover the One On the surface there is nothing more reprehensible than exile. But when we dig deeper and excavate until we reach its inner core, there is a hidden energy that can only be accessed in exile. It is the very force that empowers us to thrive in exile and ultimately be liberated from it. The way we brin Parsha Miketz – The Distant Closeness of the Threshold Era Joseph, after careful thought, decides to control his emotions and act the way he was convinced G-d wanted him to. He would use “tough love” and be harsh to them but not with any feeling of anger or hatred. Joseph was walking an emotional tightrope, but was able to balance himself by using the intel Parsha Miketz – The End (2) Our Sages also inform us that even after the “End of Days,” in the Messianic Age, when all other Holidays will no longer be significant, Chanukah will still stand out as a great Holiday. Parsha Miketz – The End By Joseph rising to power and providing for the needs of the world, Joseph endeavored to sow the spiritual seeds that would give the entire world its ability to rise above all constraints and obstacles and remove all traces of spiritual hunger. Parsha Miketz – The Twelve Seven Sons of Jacob and the Seven Branches of the Menorah Joseph was attempting to light the souls of his brothers. y exposing them to their ordeal he was removing the crust that dimmed the spark of goodness and holiness that they all possessed in ample measure. Parsha Miketz – Two Dreams Are Better Than One When we review the behavior of the Maccabees we see how their action was brazen. There was no logical basis for them to start a rebellion against overwhelming odds. It made no sense for them to defy the Syrian-Greek government that exercised total sovereignty over little Israel. It was unmitigated c Parsha Miketz – Wake Up and Open Your Eyes! We are living in the most opportune time for the Jewish people. The Jewish people enjoy as much freedom as they have today in virtually every country in the world. Even the “Evil Empire,” the former Soviet Union, has disappeared. We have witnessed unprecedented miracles of Biblical proportions in th