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There is a story told about Horav Chaim Soloveitchik,zl, and the infamous Jewish apostate, Professor Daniel Chivalson, who was a Bible scholar and critic in Czarist Russia at the end of the nineteenth century.  Chivalson had  the position of chief censor for Hebrew books.  Despite his apparent betrayal of the religion to which he was born,  he continued  to act favorably to his “ex” co-religionists.  He was in touch with many famous rabbanim of his time. He signed his letters with the name Yosef,  the name by which he was called prior to his spiritual demise.  When Chivalson reached his…

Pharaoh asked Yosef to interpret his dreams.  Yosef interpreted the dreams to Pharaoh’s satisfaction. He then proceeded to offer unsolicited advice.  Is that not going beyond the scope of what he was asked to do?  What compelled Yosef to step forward, to propel himself for the position?  Horav Tzvi Hirsch Ferber, zl, offers a practical response.  He analogizes this to two officers who had a penchant for glory.  They were so wrapped up in themselves that they assumed that everyone admired and adored them.  They once came to the train station and found a band playing.  Each one thought that…

The two years refer to the additional two years Yosef remained in prison. Initially, Hashem decreed that Yosef would be imprisoned for ten years for “slandering” his ten brothers. Hashem, however, extended his incarceration, because he placed his trust in the wine steward. In addressing Yosef’s misplaced trust, the Midrash seems to be inconsistent. They cite a pasuk in Tehillim 40:5 which states, “Praiseworthy is the man who has made Hashem his trust.” Chazal interpret this to be a reference to Yosef, whose faith in the Almighty was unshakeable. Chazal interpret the second part of the pasuk, “And turned not…